Claudius, the cowboy of Ramapo Valley. A story of revolutionary times in southern New York

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CLAUDIUS,

The Cowboy of Ramapo Valley,

A Story of Revolutionary Times in
Southern New York.

IR.

MIDDLETOWN, N. Y. :

S BAUSON & Bo YD, PRESS STEAM PRINT.

1894.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hun-
dred and ninety-four,
BY P. DEMAREST JOHNSON,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

TO

(5EO?(5E W. SUFFER,

MY LONG TIME FRIEND AND A DESCENDANT OF ONE OF THE
STAUNCHEST PATRIOTS OF THE TIME THAT TRIED MEN'S
SOULS, AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE MANY HAPPY
HOURS WE HAVE PASSED TOGETHER IN RAMB-
LING AMONG THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS AND
THROUGH THE HISTORIC VALLEYS OP
OUR BIRTH PLACE,

THIS LITTLE BOOK IS DEDICATED,

WITH THE HOPE THAT MANY MORE OF THOSE PLEASANT HOURS
MAY INTERVENE BEFORE OUR PATHS SHALL SEPARATE.

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

The part of the country where the scenes of this story are
mainly laid is certainly one of the most romantic and beautiful
in the land. Between what has always been designated as The
Point of the Mountain and the Highlands of the Hudson near
the present village of Nyack, lie the rolling lands comprising
the county of Rockland. For splendid and romantic scenery
it will compare favorably with any county in the State. Not
many New Yorkers know what a little Switzerland there is so
near the great city or what rugged mountains and pleasant val-
leys are to be found almost at their doors and how little need
there is, to travel to the distant Adirondacks, to find sparkling
streams, limpid lakes, and the other handiwork of nature which
makes that region so attractive to the seeker of pleasure.

But not only for these things is this portion of the State re-
markable. Among its rugged peaks and gently rolling hills may
be found relics of the time that tried men's souls ; and many a
place can be pointed out to the wayfarer, which has been hal-
lowed and made sacred by the presence of* the great hero of
human freedom and the men who followed him in that long, and
finally victorious struggle.

To the patriotic citizen, and one who loves to ramble among
such scenes, many days of pleasure, and profit too, await him,
if he will put himself into the hands of some old pioneer
acquainted with this stretch of country and be shown where, in

the dark days of the revolution, those men of iron stood on
guard amid the rocks and ravines of historic Ramapo Pass.

As to the characters in this little story : many of them were
the true actors in the drama then being enacted and were living
men and women of the time. Claudius is so much a true char-
acter, that still, among the oldest inhabitants of that district, he
is known as the Scourge of the Highlands and the tradition of
his desperate and cruel deeds ha* been handed down from father
to son ; and in the literature of the two counties of Orange and
Rockland. he has a prominent place.

Rem. Onderdonk too, was more of a hero than he is pic-
tured here, and was really a daring and impetuous scout through-
out the whole conflict ; and his memory is still fresh and green
among the descendants of that family which has always occu-
pied a prominent position in that part of the State.

Many of the incidents here related are also matters of fact
and well known among the old families whose forefathers were
the first settlers and pioneers of the old county of Orange ; and
thus may be seen that the whole story, though colored somewhat
by the imagination of the author, has a basis of fact and truth,
and in many instances, does not exaggerate what transpired there
when the yeoman of Orange helped strike the blow for liberty
whose reverberations were heard around the world.

THE AUTHOR.

CLAUDIUS,

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY.

CHAPTER I.

"For my own part I do not believe the King
and Parliament have the right to tax tea, or, for
that matter, any other commodity imported by us ;
and if this business is persisted in it will lead to
bloodshed and it may be revolution outright. The
times are wild and unsettled and I shall prepare
myself for the worst and be ready to act my part
in what may prove to be a bloody drama."

"I do not agree with you, Barent. I believe
the government has the right to tax its subjects
for the good of the nation, and though I think it
will never come to such a serious pass as you
imagine, if it should, I give you my word that I
shall always be found upon the side of my King
righting against the traitorous faction which has

8 CLAUDIUS,

for years already spoken lightly of his authority
and been breeding contempt for the laws of the
land."

This was part of a conversation which occurred
between two young men who had accidently met,
while hunting near the base of the mountain
range which constitutes the western border of
what is now the county of Rockland in the Em-
pire State of New York. The time was the
autumn of 1774, just after the meeting in Philadel-
phia of the first General Congress and the year after
the destruction of the tea in Boston harbor. The
one addressed as Barent was a young man of
about twenty-two years, a representative of one of
the leading families of that part of the country,
(the Van Houtens). The other one was a youth
of probably twenty, who answered to the name of
Claudius Smith. He was born among the moun-
tains that gird the valley of the Ramapo and from
boyhood had been a wild and wayward lad. His
family owned a large track of mountain land,
which in the eyes of the surrounding neighbors
raised it above the common herd.

The young men, after some further conversa-

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 9

tion of a desultory nature, parted and took the
mountainous path to their respective homes.

Barent Van Houten, as his name indicates, was
a descendant of the early Dutch settlers of what
was then the County of Orange in the Province
of New York. His education was the best the
country afforded at the time, and it was only
within the last year that he had returned from the
city of New York, after graduating from one of
its best schools, and now, like many more of the
prominent young men of the Province, felt seri-
ously interested in the troubles which had been
brewing for several years between Great Britain
and her American Colonies. As is well known,
the descendants of the Dutch settlers in this part
of the Province of New York, were in the main
found upon the patriotic side during the Revolu-
tionary struggle, and the Van Houtons were no
exception to the rule. Barent, being one of the
most prominent of the young men of that family,
was looked upon and recognized as a leader in all
things social or political, and his influence among
them was great and powerful. In person he was
the perfection of manly beauty, being rather above

10 CLAUDIUS,

the medium height, broad shouldered and power-
fully built, with a high and expansive forehead,
around which his dark hair clustered in short and
wavy curls. His whole contour reminded one of
a finished Corinthian column carved by the in-
spired hand of Phidias. The Van Houton home-
stead was situated in a beautiful valley near the
center of what was called in those days Orange
County south of the mountains. It was a typical
Dutch mansion, built in the most substantial man-
ner of stone, with hipped roof and an expansive
hall running through the center from front to rear.
Everything about it betokened the easy circum-
stances and comparative opulence of its owner.
The barns and outbuildings were numerous and
extensive, as was required by the large and pro-
ductive farm surrounding them. The family con-
sisted of Rulof, the father, his wife and Barent,
their only child.

Among the neighbors of the Van Houtons was
the large and prosperous family of the Onder-
donks, distantly related, and of the same patriotic
impulses. Of all the young men of the surround-
ing country, there was none of more earnest

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. II

patriotism than Rembrandt Onderdonk, the eldest
son of old Martinus, the owner of many a broad acre
of smiling meadow land and forest. Rem., as he
was called by his family and intimate friends, was
of that wild and impulsive nature that does with
the whole heart whatever is to be done without
fear or ever stopping to count the cost. He was
large of frame and strong of muscle, standing six
feet four in his stockings, erect and powerful as
the sturdy oak of his native forests, but withal
of a jovial, good nature, unless excited by
strong provocation, when nothing could with-
stand the fury of his rage. Such were the char-
acteristics and description of Rem. Onderdonk,
who, before the revolutionary struggle ended, be-
came known throughout the district as the fighting
scout of Ramapo. The family besides Rem., were
Dirck, a younger son, and Katherine, the only
daughter, the life of the household.

As time passed things began to take a warlike
turn, and early in 1775 the news of the battle of
Lexington was heralded over the land, and caused
the most intense excitement. At every public
place in the country and on every street corner in

12 CLAUDIUS,

the cities the people were to be seen discussing
the question of resistance to the demands of the
mother country.

In that portion of the country where the scenes
of our story are laid, the people ranged them-
selves either upon the patriotic, or, (as it was called
in derision), the tory side of the question. In
some few instances families were divided on the
subject, but the great majority espoused the cause
of the Colonies, and immediately set about mak-
ing preparations to meet any emergency that
might arise.

In 1774, at the house of Yost Mabie, at Tappan,
the county seat of Orange, a Declaration of Rights
had already been signed and given to the world by
the leading inhabitants, setting forth in almost iden-
tical language with the preamble of the Declaration
of Independence what the people demanded. Thus
may be seen the spirit which animated the inhabi-
tants and made them steadfast through more than
eight long years of blood and carnage, and which
in the end caused them to triumph over Great
Britain's veteran soldiery.

CHAPTER II.

In one of the wildest and most secluded nooks
of Ramapo Pass was gathered in the early spring
of 1776 a band of young men. They were
dressed, at least most of them, in backwoods or
hunter costume, and all of them were armed with
rifles. In the centre of the group stood one who
was rather better dressed and whose rifle was more
elaborately inlaid with silver and mother of pearl,
and his form towered above the others like a
stately pine among the humbler hemlocks of the
forest. His companions stood around him in rapt
attention, and it was easy to discern that they
looked upon him as their leader, and one whose
commands they were ready to obey. This was
Claudius Smith, the tory leader of a reckless band
of mountaineers, raised by him from among the
fortresses of the Ramapo range, and to whom the
reader had a slight introduction at the beginning
of our story.

14 CLAUDIUS,

"Boys," said he, addressing those around him,
"we are just now on the eve of troublous times,
and I have no doubt we shall have a lorfg and
bloody war with the traitorous scoundrels who
have taken up arms against our lawful King, and
it now behooves us, who have always been loyal
to him, to foil their designs in every way in our
power. And while thus engaged, we can at the
same time look out for ourselves and act upon the
old maxim that 'charity begins at home.' As
you all are aware, that body of traitors, these self-
styled patriots called the General Congress, have
passed an act and appropriated money to fortify
this pass, and, in fact, have already begun the
work below Sidman's Bridge. We shall, there-
fore, be forced to do things quietly and hide our
intentions as much as possible from the argus eyes
of the scouting parties who almost daily patrol
this valley, which, as you know, leads into the
interior of the Province. And now, comrades, let
us disperse for the present, with the understanding
that one week from to-day, at this same hour, we
are to meet at the old cavern on the mountains,
where we can lay our plans with less fear of inter-

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 15

ruption. Do not fail to be there, for by that time
we shall have something of importance to claim
our attention."

As the tory leader finished his short address
each man shouldered his rifle and disappeared
amid the gloom of the surrounding forest.

'•' Ha ! ha ! ha ! O, how smart you tink you is,
Mas' Claud !" And as the last of the tory gang
disappeared in the darkness, there peered out from
a dense laurel bush within twenty feet of their
trysting place a black head, followed by the stal-
wart form of a negro. As he emerged from the
bush he jumped up and struck his heels together
three times, and as a proper ending of the perform-
ance, gave three or four steps of a plantation jig.

u O ! I got you dis time, Mas' Claud. I was
mos' sure you was up to some debilment ! Dem
tories am jist like dogs ! Whar you see tree or
four makin' a bizness runnin' togeder, you kin
be mos' sartin dat somebody's sheep am gwine to
suffer. Now I'se bound to sarcumvent your deb-
iltry sure." And saying this, Black George, as
he was known the country over, grasped his rifle
and struck a bee line for the residence of old Mar-

1 6 CLAUDIUS,

tinus Onderdonk, where he had resided all his
life, and to whom both himself and parents be-
longed as slaves.

It was quite late in the evening when George
reached the Onderdonk mansion, but he found
Rembrandt and several of the young Whigs of the
neighborhood, among them being Barent Van
Houton, in close and earnest consultation. Before
the negro had reached the house he saw the light
flickering through one of the shutters, and came
to the conclusion that before going to bed, he must
inform Mas' Rem. what he had overheard while
lying concealed in the laurel bush. He, there-
fore, tapped at the window through which he saw
the light. In a moment Rem. appeared, and
recognizing George, immediately asked what was
wanted. The negro whispered into his ear that
he had something of importance to communicate.
Without further ado Rem. led George in the midst
of the assembled company and told him to unfold
his secret before them all. George told them all
he had heard and seen at the secret meeting of
the tory band ; how young Claudius Smith had
addressed them and seemed to be their leader, and,

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 17

finally, of the projected gathering of the band a
week hence at the cavern on the mountain.

This, of course, was news to the assembled
young men, and though some of them had sus-
picions as to the patriotism of Claudius, still they
had not thought he would take an active part
against the majority of his countrymen. But now
they were undeceived, for they well knew the
truthfulness and honesty of Black George, and
they were sure he had given them a correct report
of what he had discovered.

After George had told his story, the young men
held a sort of council of war. Barent Van Honten,
who, as was noted before, composed one of the
number who had met by appointment at the
Onderdonk homestead, immediately suggested that
it would be wise to closely watch Claudius and his
future movements and if he committed any overt
act, to report it at once to the military head-
quarters at Tappan. He also announced that a
company had been organized there and were ask-
ing for recruits to fill up its ranks. u Now is the
time," said he, "to show our patriotism by our
acts, and setting the example to others by enlist-

1 8 CLAUDIUS,

ing in the service of the country, and I feel sure
there is not one present but feels the same as I do
and is ready to throw his all into the scales and
abide by the issue, whatever that may be."

This little speech had the desired effect, for one
and all announced their intention of enlisting in
the ranks of the patriot army which was being
organized throughout the land.

Thus it may be observed how the seeds of
liberty planted by the sturdy fathers of our land
germinated in after years and produced a crop of
patriotic martyrs whose blood enriched the soil of
freedom and in the end built up the mighty fabric
whose blessings we now enjoy. It was a late hour
when the party dispersed, each one with the full
intention of carrying into effect the resolution
made at the meeting.

The next day Rem. Onderdonk made his way
to the house of his intimate friend Barent, and,
together, they procee4ed to Tappan, the headquar-
ters of the company which was being organized
for the service. Barent had already been elected
a lieutenant in the company and was, therefore,
in a hurry to reach the place.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 19

Rem.'s intention in going there was to obtain
through the assistance of Barent a commission as
captain of scouts and to receive permission from
the committee of safety to raise a company whose
business should be to patrol the west bank of the
Hudson and watch the movements of the preda-
tory bands of tories and cowboys which infested
the country lying between that river and Ramapo
Pass. His mission proved successful and he pro-
ceeded immediately to raise his company, which
was accomplished in a very short time, when he
announced himself ready to begin operations.

To say that Rem. was in his glory at the pros-
pect of being instrumental in circumventing the
royalists did not fully express his feelings on this
occasion. His company consisted of young and
sturdy patriots whose souls were in the cause and
whose confidence in their leader was supreme.
Leaving Captain Rem. in a business so much in
harmony with his impulsive nature, we will take
the reader to somewhat different scenes.

CHAPTER III.

On the broad piazza of a large and comfortable
looking dwelling situated among the pleasant sur-
roundings of rural life, and on the highway leading
from Ramapo Pass, were seated, in the early
evening of a beautiful day in 1776, a young couple
in earnest conversation.

u My dear Mary," said the young man to his
companion, "the time has arrived when every
young man should feel himself in duty bound to
aid his struggling country in the effort she is now
making to free herself from the oppression of
Great Britain. She needs the influence and mate-
rial aid of a:l her sons and daughters too. I am
well aware of the tremendous and unequal strug-
gle before us, but with an honest belief in the
justice of her cause, and a firm reliance on Him
who always fights the battles of the weak, I am
confident that we will triumph in the end "

"I believe as you do, Barent, but to think of

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 21

all the misery that such a war will bring upon our
land alrnosr unnerves me," said his companion.

The reader, of course, recognizes the young man
as Barent Van Houten, and we will introduce, his
companion as Mary Demaray, the only child of old
Bernhard Demaray, the most prominent represent-
ative of the Huguenot family of that name in the
Province. She was beautiful beyond most of her
sex. Her hair hung in dark tresses to her slender
waist ; her eyes were large and black and of that
peculiar expression which tells of love unquench-
able, and firm reliance and faith in the object
of her affections. Mary Demaray was not the
plaything of an hour, nor the kind of young
woman that needs to be placed in a hot house
atmosphere for fear of withering, but one of the
kind born for something higher and better and
wh<>se nature was calculated to strengthen and sus-
tain the object to which it clung.

"What you say is no doubt too true," rejoined
Barent. "Misery and suffering are the accompa-
niments of every war, but the die is cast and the
Congress in session at Philadelphia issued a
Declaration of Independence on the 4th day of

22 CLAUDIUS,

last July. It only remains for every true lover of
his country to use his earnest endeavor to sustain
and uphold that declaration."

"Yes," said she, "and I would not have you
do otherwise, dear Barent ; for I too, though only a
woman, have noted each successive act of oppres-
sion passed by the Parliament and consented to
by the King, as if for the purpose of driving us to
rebellion , and, I suppose, if we should remain
passive under • these, others ot a more virulent
nature would be heaped upon us."

" But the worst feature of this business," con-
tinued Barent, " is that there are some persons
and families of influence among us who not only
feel coldly toward our cause, but, I fear, will even
take up arms against us under pretense of loyalty
to the King. They are being closely watched and
we hope to frustrate their evil designs ; but they
can certainly do us much harm and may cause
this war to assume a more horrid front by their
unnatural behavior. However, let us hope for
better days and more peaceful times."

Barent took an affectionate leave of his betrothed,
sprung into the saddle and was away to his com-

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 23

pany at Tappan. Mary watched her lover until
his form was lost in the dim twilight, when she
turned and entered the house, where her father,
the staunch old Whig, was sitting.

"Well, Mary ! what good news did Barent
bring? " asked the old man. " Nothing of greater
import than that the Congress now in session at
Philadelphia almost unanimously issued a Declara-
tion of Independence on the 4th day of last July,"
replied the daughter.

" Well done for them ! I glory in their staunch
patriotism. The world will now know what we
are fighting for ! There is nothing indefinite
about that, and it will cause the line to be strictly
drawn between patriot and traitor so that we shall
know who are our friends, and who our foes."

Although the Declaration of Independence had
been signed several months previously, Barent had
brought the first news of the event to this retired
spot, the delay of course being due to the lack of
telegraphs and railroads at the time of which we
are writing. This important event gave hope and
courage to the Whigs and caused depresssion and
anger among the tories throughout the land.

CHAPTER IV.

About a week after the meeting of the young-
Whigs at the house of Rem. Onderdonk, himself
and Black George might have been seen in earnest
consultation near one of the large Dutch barns at
the rear of the dwelling. " Now George," said
Rein., "I shall depend upon you to find out
exactly where the meeting place of these tories is
situated. Where that cavern is located, I do not
certainly know, but I feel sure that you can find
it and therefore I want you to start this afternoon,
as to-night you know is the time set for their
meeting. Proceed to the foot of the mountain,
conceal yourself at some point where you can see
without yourself being seen, and I am almost con-
fident you will notice some of them on their way
there, when you can stealthily follow, keeping
yourself out of sight, and finally locate the head-
quarters of the gang."

"I am de boy for dat bizness, Mas' Rem !" said

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 25

George. " Jist you leab it to me, and if I don't run
dem tories to dar hole, you kin call me a fool
nigger !"

This was a business which exactly suited Black
Geoige, and he began the work immediately.
Going into the large, old-fashioned kitchen he
took from its resting place his trusty old rifle, and
taking a path that led through the heavy wood-
land northward, he was soon lost to view from the
farm house. Striking across the dense swamps
and forests which lay between the Onderdonk farm
and the base of Kakiatt mountain, he was soon
upon ground where he deemed concealment to be
the better part of valor. He consequently kept
himself under cover as much as possible, picking his
way through the underbrush, which grew on the
mountain side. He finally secreted himself in an
almost impenetrable thicket on one of the foot
hills of the range.

"Now den, Mas' Claud ! I is in dis nest fer to
watch yer capers, an' if dis child don't find oui
where ye put up nights, den my name ain't
George," said the negro to himself.

He had not been secreted more than half an

26 CLAUDIUS,

hour when he heard a cautious footstep below him.
Peeping cautiously from the bush in which he had
taken refuge, George saw a man with his rifle
slung across his shoulder slowly and carefully
ascending the hill. He passed within a dozen yards
of where the negro lay and made his way silently
toward the summit. He had scarcely gone a hun-
dred yards when George emerged from his hiding
place and quietly followed him.

" Dis am a hot trail sure, and I'se got de scent
strong, and I guess I won't lose it," said George to
himself, as he stepped quietly along behind the
man. They kept on in this way for some time
until the person in advance had nearly reached the
summit, when he suddenly stopped and gave a
peculiar whistle, low and somewhat prolonged.
In a moment it was answered from what seemed
a rift in the rocks to the left of where he stood.
Again another low, short note and an answering one
from the rocks and then a man appeared as though
he had risen out of the earth close beside the rift.
The man then advanced and the two disappeared
as though by magic. Black George lay low now,
and from then until darknes closed in around the

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 27

mountain, he saw eighteen armed men approach,
give the signal, and disappear in the rift in the
rocks. The negro now marked well the lay of
the land, noted the different land marks, and feel-
ing sure he would have no trouble in locating the
cavern afterwards, carefully descended the moun-
tain and before midnight was again at the Onder-
donk homestead. He immediately communicated
what he had discovered to Mas' Rein., who, after
questioning him to his satisfaction, told him to be
sure to keep in mind the direction and landmarks
by which to locate the cavern, as his knowledge
would, in the near future, be put to the test.
"All right, Mas' Rem, I got 'em all here," and
Black George tapped his forehead significantly, to
show where he had stored the knowledge.

Among the many admirers of Katharine Onder-
donk, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of
old Martinus, was young Claudius Smith, the sus-
pected leader of the tory band. He had been
quite a frequent visitor at the mansion in the
past, and from appearances an not altogether un-
welcome one — at least so thought several of the
young men who had some aspirations to the hand

28 CLAUDIUS,

of Katherine — and so his appearance there three
days after George had located the tory headquar-
ters on the mountain did not seem a thing unusual
to the casual observer.

Claudius was received by Katharine in a cordial
manner and invited into the dwelling. His horse
was taken by one of the colored servants and
properly cared for, and everything was done to
make his visit as agreeable as possible. But he
did not seem to feel at ease, and Katharine noticed
during the conversation that he was preoccupied
and his whole demeanor like one who had some-
thing weighty on his mind. In the evening Rein,
arrived at home and was met by George, who im-
mediately imformed him of the presence of
Claudius in the house. A frown spread over
Rem.'s usually pleasant countenance, and after in-
quiring of George how long he had been there
strode into the room where his sister was enter-
taining her visitor.

"Good evening Claudius!" said Rem. as he
entered. " Good evening Rembrandt ! " returned
Claudius. " The weather is fine and the air brac-
ing, and I enjoyed my ride over here more than I

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 29

can tell you." "Yes," said Rem., "the weather
is fine and everything in nature looks favorable,
but our country is entering upon what may prove
a long and bloody struggle against the tyranny of a
mad King and what appears to be an insane
Parliament."

' ' Well, ' ' remarked Claudius, " as to there being a
long war, it may be true, but as to the tyranny of
the King and Parliament, I believe their acts are
legal, and that it is only right and proper that we
should assist in paying for our own protection.
The armies of the mother country were sent here
to aid us in defending our soil agdinst the invasion
of the French and the atrocities of their savage
allies ; and now, when she needs our help finan-
cially, I see no reason in our resisting her just
demands."

"I had hoped for better things from you, Claud-
ius," returned Rem., "and imagined that in you
we would have a strong, intelligent and faithful
ally ; but it seems I have been deceived in so think-
ing, and must, though reluctantly, place you
among the enemies of Liberty."

"If to be loyal to our annointed King, and

30 CLAUDIUS,

ready to uphold the laws of the land, makes one
an enemy to liberty, you are welcome to place me
in that category," replied Claudius.

Katharine, who had been sitting by silently
thus far, now made an effort to turn the conversa-
tion toward a less dangerous subject. She there-
fore inquired of Rem. (who had just returned from
the neighborhood of King's Ferry), as to the health
of some relatives residing there. But he did not
seem to hear her, and said to Claudius :

"Well, we have been friends for many years,
and I had hoped to remain such for many more ; but
the time has arrived when we must consider those
who are not for us as being against us."

"As to that, you must use your own judgment ;
but let me warn you, Rembrandt, to beware of
following the lead of .the traitorous crew who, as I
am informed, are already organizing an army to
withstand the just demands of the mother country,
for it will bring swift destruction upon the head of
every one found in the ranks, and in open treason
to the government," said Claudius, as Rem. bade
him goodbye and left the house.

He remained but a short time at the Onderdonk

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 31

mansion after his rather exciting conversation with
Rem., and which had left a bitter feeling in the
hearts of the young men. Of course his opinions
found no sympathy in that quarter, and even
Katharine concluded that the principles held by
Claudius were not calculated to promote good feel-
ing in that community ; and she really hoped his
visits there might become less frequent.

CHAPTER V.

Ramapo Valley, which pierces, and really cuts
in twain, the rugged hills of the Ramapo range, is
one of the most remarkable defiles in the country.
The scenery throughout the entire sixteen miles of
its length is grand and imposing. At no place is
it more than half a mile in width. From the nar-
row pass at its southern outlet, where stand the
twin peaks of Noorde Kup, and Hooghe Kup, to its
northern extremity, where the mountains slope
down into the fertile fields of old Orange, it is
romantic beyond description. Upon either side
rise the rugged granite walls, from a thousand to
fifteen hundred feet in height, while through the
center of the valley flow the waters of the lovely
Ramapo river ; here, gliding peacefully along
through smiling meadows, and again, leaping in
mad energy over scraggy rocks, or tumbling in
mist and foam over miniature Niagaras, making it
all in all one of the most delightful mountain val-
leys in this broad land.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 33

At the time of which we write it was closely
settled. Near the southern mouth, fortifications in
the shape of a couple of block houses had been
erected at some previous period for protection
against the Indians, and near by them was a single
farm house. From there northward through the
valley was here and there a farm house or a log
hut of a mountaineer, until you came near the
northern end, where a more imposing structure
had been built. It was a substantial log house of
considerable size and stood in a sheltered nook of
the mountains on the east side of the valley. Its
surroundings were such as betokened easy circum-
stances in those who occupied it. The outbuild-
ings were extensive and in good repair, and
everything about indicated that the lord of this
mansion was not of the common herd.

This was the home of the Smith family, of
which Claudius was a prominent member. The
family consisted of the old man Jacobus, his wife
Maria, both of whom had already passed the com-
mon limit of three score years and ten; two sons,
Cobus and Claudius ; and a daughter named Sally.
3

34 CLAUDIUS,

The whole family was noted for the size and
strength of its members ; for their rugged endur-
ance, and above all for a certain shrewdness in
making bargains ; in fact for knowing how to
make money, and keeping it after it was made.
But above all the rest, were these characteristics
developed in the youngest son, Claudius. Not
only was he the giant of the family physically,
but also far above them in intellect, and all that
goes to make a leader of men ; but as the reader
has had an introduction to him before, we need
follow this line no farther. Be it known from
henceforth, that he was the Smith of the family,
and the one who afterwards made the name known
throughout the land ; whether for good or evil,
the reader may be able to decide when our story
is told.

It was quite late in the evening when Claudius
returned from his visit to Katharine Onderdonk,
and as might be expected he was not in the best
humor, for he clearly saw that under the circum-
stances it was doubtful whether his suit for the
hand of the patriotic maiden would prove success-
ful. He feared the influence of Rem. on his sister

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 35

would prove too heavy a factor to be eliminated
even by the love he thought the daughter of old
Martinus bore him. As he arrived at the
house he threw himself from the saddle and entered
the room where his mother and sister were sitting
engaged in some feminine occupation.

A mother's eye, it is said, can discern the
workings of her offspring's heart quicker and
truer than all the world beside. The mother of
Claudius was no exception to the rule, for he had
scarcely set his feet across the threshold when the
old lady discovered the cloud on his brow.

" How now Claud !" said she, "what is it ails
my boy? " What has come over you that I see
the bad light in your eye? " " Nothing, mother,
that amounts to anything excepting that there are
many more traitors to the King than I or any one
else expected." "Ah, my boy, it is more than
that worries you ! Has old Onderdonk's daughter
jilted you? If she has it serves you right, and
shame it is that a son of ours should be currying
favors from such as they," replied the old woman.

Such talk from his mother still further angered
Claudius, as he answered: "No mother you are

36 CLAUDIUS,

wide of the mark. It is not love, but war that I
am thinking of. Instead of Cupid with his boyish
pranks and harmless weapons it will be old Mars,
the horrid god of war, at whose shrine we will all
be worshipping ; for as I live, I believe ere the
new year comes around the war cry will be heard
ringing among the hills and valleys of our land.
The whole country seems ripe for rebellion, and it
behooves us, who are friends of the King, to make
preparation to aid him in crushing out the spirit of
revolt, which is stalking ghostlike over the whole
country."

"Where is Cobus?" asked Claudius of his
mother. " I do not know, though he was here
a short time ago. He may be at neighbor Jones', "
answered the old lady.

Cobus was the eldest of the two brothers, in
whom Claudius placed great confidence and whose
counsel he sought on all occasions. Leaving his
mother and sister, he started in search of his
brother whom he found at the barn, having just
returned from a short visit to one of the neighbors.
They held long counsel together, the purport of
which is made known by the parting words of

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 37

Claudius : " See every man if possible by tomor-
row night. Inform them where we are to meet,
and do not forget to impress upon them the fact
that there may be work to do, and therefore to
come thoroughly armed and ready for active ser-
vice." "I will see that all is done as you re-
quire," replied Cobus.

With these words the brothers parted and retired
to their respective couches to woo the drowsy god
of sleep.

CHAPTER VI.

On the iyth of June, 1775, the battle of Bunker
Hill occurred and the particulars thereof were sent
to every nook and corner of the Provinces. It was
the first time, really, that any considerable num-
ber of the opposing forces had been engaged, and
the result was such as to encourage the patriotic
sons of America to nobler and more effective
efforts. It had been discovered that American
militiamen were able to meet the veteran soldiers
of Great Britain, and, on even terms to at least hold
their own, and render a good account of themselves.
Only for the reason that ammunition had failed,
they would probably have destroyed the greater
portion of the army that was sent to dislodge
them.

This opening battle of the Revolution was con-
dusive of much good to the patriotic cause. It in-
fused new life into the hearts of the people, and
in fact caused the whole country to spring to

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 39

arms. From the bleak hills of New Hampshire
to the smiling savannas of our southern land, the
call to arms was heard. It united and consolidated
the different Provinces in the bold determination
to free themselves entirely from the oppression of
the mother country. Those who before had
wavered and looked upon the signers of the
Declaration as men who had rashly burned their
bridges behind them now came forward and either
enlisted in the army or gave of their means to its
support.

Washington had been appointed by the second
General Congress, Commander-in-Chief of the Amer-
ican forces and was on his way to Boston to assume
the command. In every part of the country com-
panies were being organized and drilled for active
service against the invaders. Barent Van Houten
and his company were already in the city of New
York and composed part of the force encamped at
Harlem Heights, where fortifications were erected
for the defence of the city. Ramapo Pass was also
being fortified, appropriations for the same having
been made by act of the General Congress, and Fort
Sidman was built near the southern mouth of the

40 CLAUDIUS,

valley to protect this, the main pass through the
highlands between the Hudson and the Delaware.

It was a time of energetic organization among
the sons of liberty throughout the thirteen colo-
nies, which together, formed the brightest jewel
in England's crown.

Rembrandt Onderdonk, now a captain of scouts,
was busily engaged in watching the movements of
British war vessels on the Hudson river, and the
doings of the tories and cowboys between that
river and Ramapo Pass. Word had been sent him
from several different points, of depredations com-
mitted by them upon the farmers of the district.
Cattle and horses were stolen and the inhabitants
maltreated and abused if they dared to protest
against these acts of violence.

On the afternoon of the day set for the gathering
of the band under Claudius Smith, there seemed
-to be more than the usual number of visitors at
the Smith homestead in the valley. There were
hardy, rough looking men arriving and departing,
as though they had come to headquarters to report
and receive orders ; and such in fact was the case,
for Claudius was there, and the men seen going in

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 41

and out were of the kind who acknowledged him
as their leader and in whom they placed the
utmost confidence.

He occupied a small room in the rear of what
might be called the" bar-room (for old man Smith
kept a country tavern), and there he received his
men, gave them their orders, and sent them on
their way to carry out his plans.

As the shadows of night closed in around the
valley the chief himself emerged from the house,
and mounted his horse which had been held in
readiness by a colored servant. He was well
mounted on a little and beautiful black gelding,
whose glistening coat denoted the care and groom-
ing he received, and taking a bridle path down
the eastern side of the valley, was soon lost to
sight in the gathering twilight. Claudius con-
tinued down the valley, until he came to where
the towering form of Man of War Rock could be
distinguished on the western heights, when he
turned sharply to the left and began to ascend the
eastern range.

It was a steep and tortuous path, but the rider
knew every inch of it as well as the grounds about

42 CLAUDIUS,

his birthplace. He ascended until he reached the
summit, when he drew rein and stood motionless
as a statue. Taking a small silver whistle from
his pocket, he placed it to his mouth and blew a
low prolonged note. In a few seconds it was
answered by a similar whistle from some rocks
beyond. Again he blew a short sharp note, and
then a man appeared as if rising out of the ground
not five rods from where he stood. He raised his
hat, gave the chief a military salute, advanced a
few paces and came to a halt.

Claudius sprang from his horse, threw the bridle
over his neck, and walking up to the sentinel,
asked whether Cobus .had arrived? "Yes,"
answered the man, "he is there (pointing to a
ledge of rocks) with all the rest." "Take care of
my horse," said the leader, and with these words
he disappeared into a peculiar opening in the rocks.

The man led the horse a short distance to the
north, where beneath the shelter of an immense
overhanging rock he secured him to a staple
fastened in the solid granite wall. This place
(since known throughout that vicinity as Horse
Stable Rock) would contain probably thirty or

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 43

forty horses or cattle with comparative ease and
comfort to the animals, and was almost perfectly
secure from observation. Great hemlocks with
their dense, dark foliage reaching almost to the
ground, stood along the front, while beneath them
grew a natural hedge of evergreen laurel with in-
terlacing branches, which together formed an
impenetrable thicket, completely hiding everything
within.

The secret rendezvous of the tory band was one
of the most remarkable natural caverns in exist-
ence. Situated as it was near the summit of the
eastern range of the Ramapo mountains, it was
well calculated for the headquarters of a gang of
lawless spirits, whose doings would not stand the
light of day. It also had this advantage, that
during the day time no one could approach it
without being discovered by the sentinel on guard,
as the location commanded a view in every direc-
tion.

When Claudius entered the cavern he found
nearly the whole band there. The room, which
was about twenty feet square, was lighted by
tallow candles set on small ledges against the side

44 CLAUDIUS,

walls, and one rude chandelier hung from the
center of the roof. As he entered the men rose
and greeted him cordially. "I am pleased to see
you all so punctual," said he, " and now, let us to
business ! " He took a seat at a small table in the
center of the room, and thus addressed his assem-
bled followers : " Boys," said he, " there is work
to be done, there is money to be earned, and at
the same time our king and country to be served.
The British army will, in the near future, require
provisions, for which the quartermasters will pay
liberally, for they are well supplied with the yel-
low gold of Old England, and I see no reason why
we, who are in sympathy with their cause, should
not earn an honest shilling by supplying them
with the beef which is now fattening in the rebel
pastures around us. By doing so we will be aid-
ing the cause of King George, and what is still
more to the purpose, helping ourselves also. What
have you to say to this, my men?" asked the
chief, as he rose from the chair and looked around
the room.

"We are ready to follow you, Captain Claud,
wherever you may lead," replied his men, one and

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 45

all. "And now," said Claudius, "to back up
the good resolutions we have made, let us drink
health to King George, the rightful sovereign of
these colonies." And calling on Cobus to bring
out the keg of apple brandy which had been pro-
vided for the occasion, they one and all gathered
around the table, ready at their captain's word to
drink to the health of his majesty.

Pewter cups holding about half a pint were pro-
duced and a liberal supply of the fiery liquid
poured into each one, when Claudius gave the
signal, and raising the beaker to his lips, said :
" Here is long life and health to George the Third,
our gracious lord and king ; perdition, death, and
dishonor to all his enemies !" As the last words
were spoken, they drank to the sentiment, and
clashing their cups together, until the mountain
cavern rang again, they gave three rousing cheers
for Captain Claudius Smith and the undertaking
they had in hand.

"Now," said Claudius, "as you are no doubt
aware, our work must be mainly done at night.
And when we can capture a sufficient number of
cattle or horses, it is our plan to drive them to this

46 CLAUDIUS,

or some other rendezvous until we get an oppor-
tunity to run them into the British lines, where
their sale will be quick and profitable." He then
appointed his brother Lieutenant ; and thus was
organized a band of desperadoes, which, through-
out the whole revolutionary struggle was a terror
to the surrounding country and made the name of
tory and cowboy a stench in the nostrils of every
honest man.

CHAPTER VII.

As time passed and the different results of the
Revolutionary struggle transpired, now depressing
to the patriotic cause, and again encouraging the
actors in it to renewed effort to throw off the
British yoke, events were taking place among the
rural scenes where our story is laid of a character
calculated to arouse the bitter vengeance of the
Whigs and cause them to make a combined effort
to rid themselves of the cause.

Captain Onderdonk, as before stated, had been
informed of the depredations committed in various
quarters by the tories and cowboys under the com-
mand of the bandit chief Claudius, but had been
kept from attempting their punishment by his
other duties along the Hudson River, and in the
eastern part of the district, until now, it had be-
come a necessity to make a grand effort to rid the
country of this pest, or give over a fair portion of
the Province to their control. As to the latter

48 CLAUDIUS,

alternative, Captain Rem. was not constituted
that way, and determined to teach them a lesson
that should not be forgotten during the remainder
of the struggle.

At this time he was engaged with the greater
part of his company in patrolling the west bank of
the Hudson from Verdrietige Hook to King's
Ferry. The American army had met with disaster
at White Plains, and had retreated and crossed
the river at the latter place, while detachments of
the royalist forces were occupying the east bank
and the country beyond for a considerable dis-
tance. Under these conditions Rem. did not
deem it prudent to leave the river at that point en-
tirely unprotected and without a man to watch the
movements of the vessels of war which were con-
tinually moving either up or down the stream and
annoying the inhabitants who resided along its
banks.

He therefore selected twenty of the most reliable
men of his company and set out immediately for
the vicinity of Ramapo Pass. The remainder he
left in charge of his brother Dirck (who acted as
his Lieutenant) to keep watch of the movements

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 49

of the enemy there. Rem. knew from the report
which Black George had made some time before
pretty nearly where he might expect to find the
rendezvous of Claudius and his band, but to make
it certain not to miss the place he determined to
get George to act as guide.

Captain Onderdonk and his little company
arrived at the Onderdonk homestead just as the
sun began to paint the eastern horizon with the
glorious colors of a summer morning, having
marched all that night. The household had not
yet begun the labors of the day — in fact some of
them were still enjoying their morning nap — but
Black George was found at the barn attending to
the stock and overseeing several young darkies
who were engaged in doing the morning chores.

Captain Rem. was received by his family with
expressions of joy ; and Katharine rushed into his
arms, and hung about his neck with all the effu-
sive tenderness of a loving sister for a favorite
brother. Some time had passed since he had
visited the old homestead, and he was therefore
received by the whole household with more than
4

50 CLAUDIUS,

the usuetl demonstrations of gladness. The staunch
old Whig, his father, immediately ordered a sub-
stantial breakfast to be prepared for the whole
company, and the services of every servant and
member of the family were called into requisition
for the occasion.

Black George, the chief of the retainers in the
employ of old Martinus, was especially busy to
make the visit of " Mars Rem." and his company
as pleasant as possible. Rem. was led into the
great living room of the mansion by his sister and
for more than an hour was engaged in answering
questions in regard to his own doings, how the cause
was progressing in the different localities he had
visited in the line of duty, how his brother Dirck
fared, and the thousand and one questions sug-
gested by parental love and interest in the cause
of liberty.

Breakfast being ready the company was ordered
to stack arms and then was conducted into the
great kitchen, where the table was found loaded
with everything calculated to tempt the appetite.
Having been on the march since the evening
previous, the men were in condition to do justice

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 51

to the viands set before them. After breakfast
Rem. told his men to take a good rest, as in all
probability the coining night would be one of ex-
ertion, for he determined if possible to find the
rendezvous of the cowboys and drive them from
the vicinity.

In the afternoon Rem. consulted with George
and they mapped out a plan of procedure to be
carried out the coining night.

The sun had scarcely vanished behind the
western hills when Captain Rem. called his men to
arms, and headed by Black George they began
their march in search of the cowboy band. Strik-
ing across the meadow land to the north of the
farm house, they soon entered the forest which ex-
tended to the foot of the mountain range, and
after an hour's tramp came to the base of the
mountains.

The location of the cavern had been so minutely
described by George that Captain Rem. thought
he could find it without assistance. He therefore
divided his command into two detachments often
each. George was placed at the head of one of
them as guide, while Rem. led the other ; the

52 CLAUDIUS,

plan of Attack being to approach the stronghold
of the cowboys from two sides at once and thus
close in around the place and prevent all escape.

Slowly and silently they ascended the moun-
tain. Not a twig snapped, not a footfall was
heard as they, with difficulty, clambered over the
precipitous rocks, or crawled through the thick
underbrush which covered the eastern side of the
range. At last the two parties reached the sum-
mit and deployed into skirmish lines. They then
advanced toward each other expecting to take the
bandits by surprise. They approached to within a
hundred yards of where they felt certain the
cavern was situated when out upon the night air
came the report of a dozen rifles, resounding
through the mountain valleys and among the hills
like the crack of doom. Several of the attacking
party went down at the first fire, and at least one
of them was mortally wounded.

Captain Rem. tried to rally his men, and
indeed they returned the fire as best they could ;
but they were fighting an invisible foe who had
been prepared for their coming, and were hiding
behind every tree and rock, and with perfect safety

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 53

picked off their enemies as they caught sight of
them moving among the trees upon the summit of
the ridge.

There was only one remedy, and that was to re-
treat and get out of the scrape as best they could.
Rem. therefore gave the order, and down the
mountain side they went, carrying their wounded
with them. That there had been a traitor in
camp was certain, and the only way in which it
could be explained was that some person whose
sympathies were with the tory band had discov-
ered their object while resting at the Onderdouk
homestead, or had divined their purpose when seen
on their march from the Hudson.

To say that Captain Onderdonk was disap-
pointed at the outcome of the expedition did hot
do justice to his feelings on the subject ; but like
the true soldier that he was, he was not totally dis-
heartened, and consoled himself and followers with
the promise that they should do better next time,
and he further determined that that next time
should not be far distant in the future. The next
day he returned with his company to their camp
near the Hudson.

CHAPTER VIII.

Barent Van Houten had been with his company
through the disastrous battles of Long Island and
White Plains and in the retreat through New
Jersey, and was now stationed with it as part of
the force occupying the fortifications at Ramapo
Pass. This brought him within a short distance
of home, and of the one who next to his country
held the most sacred place in his affections. He
therefore took advantage of the opportunity, and
procuring a furlough for a few days, rode over to the*
old neighborhood. He found all the friends there
in -good health and spirits and overjoyed to receive
him safe and sound after his long absence.

For Mary Demaray the months since he left her
to proceed with his company to the seat or war had
passed on leaden wings. She was aware of the
dangers which surrounded him, of the bloody bat-
tles he had participated in and of the defeats the
army had sustained of which himself and com-
pany formed a part, and consequently she had been

. THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 55

ill at ease under the circumstances. But her faith
in the cause had been strong, and when she heard
the good old dominie pray every Sabbath for the
success of the American arms, she had a firm re-
liance that the God of battles would in the end
favor the cause of the Colonies.

After Barent had given a detailed account to
his parents of all the incidents and accidents he
had experienced during the time he had been with
the army, of all the sufferings and sacrifices en-
dured by the patriots composing the army and all
the other information he was possessed of, he rode
over to the dwelling of old Bernhard Demaray.
He was received there by the whole family with
every demonstration of joy at his safe return from
the campaigns in which he had been an actor, and
for an hour was kept busy relating to the old gen-
tleman all the incidents of the war coming under
bis immediate notice. To Mary, his betrothed, he
poured out the aspirations of his heart as together
they talked over their prospects for the future and
laid the plans which they expected to see realized
when this unnatural struggle should come to an
end.

.56 CLAUDIUS,

As the reader already knows, Barent was com-
missioned a Lieutenant when the war began, but
he had since been promoted to a captaincy for
brave and meritorious conduct on the field of bat-
tle. Of course Mary felt a certain pride in the
promotion of her gallant lover, who had, in the
most unselfish manner, thrown his whole soul in-
to the cause of his country, not knowing which
way the scale might turn, and recking not of the
consequences, if in the end the balance should
turn against him. She recognized his noble na-
ture, and was proud of the valor he had displayed
in many a bloody battle with the enemies of
liberty, and gave him all the love her warm heart
was capable of, and which was reciprocated by
Barent, to whom she was more than all the earth
beside.

But this dalliance with his lady love could not
continue, for his furlough was about expiring
and he must be off to duty. So taking an affec-
tionate leave of Mary, and bidding farewell to his
family and friends, he returned to his post at Fort
Sidman among the Ramapo mountains.

About this time, the autumn of 1776, the spirit

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 57

of the Americans was at a low ebb. The army
had been chased across New Jersey and into Penn-
sylvania, by Cornwallis, and was quartered along
the banks of the Delaware. But an encouraging
event took place, when Washington, on the 26th
December, recrossed the river and won the battle
of Trenton. This raised the hopes of the people,
so that enlistments became more frequent and
supplies more plentiful.

In that battle the Americans captured one
thousand Hessians, slew their leader and escaped
back across the Delaware with the loss of two
killed in the action and two others frozen to
death. A few days after this, viz., January 3rd,
1777, having again recrossed the Delaware, Wash-
ington fell upon a detachment lying at Princeton,
routed them, took three hundred prisoners, and by
a rapid march reached the heights of Morristown
in safety. This last event set the country wild
with joy and raised the hopes of the friends of
liberty to a greater pitch than ever before.

While these great events were transpiring in
New Jersey, matters of smaller calibre, but not
less interesting to those engaged, were taking

58 CLAUDIUS,

place among the hills of Ramapo. Claudius, after
the repulse of the expedition sent against him
under the command of Captain Onderdonk, became
more audacious in his manner and actions, and
boldly led his men into the open country and
seized the horses and cattle belonging to the farm-
ers of the vicinity ; and if any resistance was
offered, did not hesitate to kill in order to accom-
plish his designs. These depredations were
becoming of such common occurrence and the
inhabitants were so thoroughly terrorized, that in
the fall of 1778 complaint was made to the Com-
mander-in-Chief, whose headquarters were then at
the Suffern mansion at the southern end of
Ramapo valley.

The work of dislodging this band of marauders,
as time passed, became difficult. Their emissaries
were scattered over all that part of the country
which now comprises the counties of Orange and
Rockland in New York, and Bergen and Passaic
in New Jersey. Every move was watched and
every action of the patriots was noted by these
traitors to human liberty, and reported to the cow-
boy chief. As may be seen, therefore, it was an

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 59

undertaking of considerable magnitude to rid the
neighborhood of this well organized band of vil-
lains.

Through the center of this district which they
infested, ran the range of mountains known as the
Kakiatt, or Ramapo range, in the fastnesses of which
were located their hiding places. The complaints
against the bandits were so many and became so
urgent, that Washington finally, after counseling
with officers who knew the difficulties and dangers
attending the business, selected Captain Rem-
brandt Onderdonk, with his company of scouts, to
pursue this band of outlaws, until they were all
either killed, captured, or driven out of the country.

With this end in view, the General sent for
Rem., who at the time was with his company near
King's Ferry on the Hudson. Rem. soon appeared
at headquarters ready for business. He was con-
ducted into the presence of Washington by Captain
Barent Van Houten, who had lately been appointed
one of his aids.

"Captain Onderdonk," said Washington, "I
have sent for you to confer upon business of a very
important nature. It appears from many reports

60 CLAUDIUS,

received at these headquarters that the mountain
range between this point and King's Ferry is in-
fested by a well organized band of tories and cow-
boys, led by a most unscrupulous and cunning man
by the name of Claudius Smith. You have been
recommended by those in whom I place the
utmost confidence as the one person above, all
others to command the expedition I intend to send
against them. I will not force this command up-
on you. I know the danger and difficulties attend-
ing an undertaking of this kind. In fact I will
accept none but volunteers, both officers and men.
What say you Captain Onderdonk, can we have
your services."

"General," answered Rein., UI have enlisted
for the war and expect to serve until victory
crowns our efforts or my life shall last, and am at
the service of my country in any capacity the
Commander-in-Chief may see fit to designate. "
"Thank you, Captain Onderdonk ! I am pleased
to find you willing to undertake this business and
believe you will be able to accomplish what you
are about to set out to do," said the general.
" Captain Van Houten will accompany you, and

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 6 1

when the soldiers of this post are drawn up for in-
spection, you have my permission to call for as
many volunteers as you need to reinforce your own
command, and for the success of the expedition
you have my best wishes."

So saying Washington dismissed Captain Rem.,
who immediately proceeded with Barent to recruit
his ranks.

When the men comprising the garrison of Fort
Sidman were ordered out for inspection, Barent
announced the wishes of the General. Captain
Rem. selected twenty-five men out of hundreds who
volunteered their service, and leaving them at the
fort until he could bring his old company from
King's Ferry, he bade Barent good bye and
started on his return to camp.

CHAPTER IX.

At the base of the mountains where Call Hollow
pierces the range toward the north, was situated at
the time of which we write a somewhat dilapidated
log house. Its surroundings were wild and for-
bidding. The dark green foliage of the old hem-
locks which grew around it almost hid the struc-
ture from observation, and made the place look
dismal and gloomy in the extreme. The sole oc-
cupant of this cheerless abode was an old woman
of probably seventy-five. Though stooping some-
what under the weight of years, Aunt Hester, as
she was called by all who knew her, was still ac-
tive and quick in her movements, and her black,
piercing eyes retained the brightness of youth.

Throughout the whole neighborhood she was
known as a fortune teller, and by the superstitious
portion of the inhabitants she was suspected of
holding secret communications with the gentle-
man in black. Strange stories of uncanny doings
in the old house were told by the people who had

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 63

occasion to pass the place at night. Curious illum-
inations of the house had been seen in the small
hours of the morning, when the old lady had
guests of strange character, and goings on were
heard and seen which had the appearance of
ghostly revels. In fact the old woman had been
seen by several (whose words were hard to doubt)
dancing with her naked feet in the midst of glow-
ing coals, while some one who had the appearance
of Satan himself was playing upon a fiddle to
make the music for her.

Of course, all these stories caused the timid
ones to shun the place, and therefore Aunt Hester
was not troubled or overburdened with visitors.
It was only now and then, some rustic Romeo ven-
tured there to consult her in regard to his future,
or to find out how his suit would be received by (
his intended Juliet. It was seldom any one would
own to having thus consulted her, but still it was
surmised that others, whose pretentious to greater
intelligence was well known, had crossed the old
dame's palm with the gold so necessary to future
insight, and received from her the horoscope of
their nativity.

64 CLAUDIUS,

Be this as it may, one thing is certain, that
on a dark and stormy night in the early part of
the winter of 1778, when the north wind came
howling down Call Hollow and the old hemlocks
bent and swirled under the wintry blast, a stalwart
form might have been seen knocking for admission
at the door of the old log house. As the man
stood there waiting to be admitted, the snow,
driven by the fitful gusts of wind, whirled around
him and dashed into his face with terrible force.
He became impatient and knocked long and
loudly. At last the door opened slowly and the
old woman asked who was there and what was
wanted. " In the first place I want to get in
out of this infernal storm," said the man, as he
pushed through the half open door, "and in the
•next place I have come to find out what is to be-
fall me in the future ? " " Why should you come
to me on such an errand, Claudius Smith ? Can't
you let an old woman like me rest in peace," re-
plied the old dame. "Well, Aunt Hester," said
Claudius, (for it was he) "it is said in all the country
round that you can tell .what the future holds in
store for us poor mortals, and so I have come to

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 65

you for that purpose. See, here is the glittering-
gold which is the open sesame to your black art ! "
saying which, he laid an English sovereign in her
hand.

"Claudius Smith," said Aunt Hester, her small
black eyes glittering in the light of the tallow
candle, like those of a basilisk, u you don't want
me to tell you of the future. You know what
that will be without my telling ; therefore go,
leave me in peace, and trouble no more a decrepit
-old woman ! " She knew of the doings of the man
who now stood before her ; of how unscrupulous
he was, and how merciless toward those who
offended him in any way. She therefore tried to
put him off in the manner stated above.

But the tory chief would not be denied, and in-
sisted that she should read the future for him.
"Well," said she, "if you will have it, and noth-
ing else will do, why so be it," and suiting the
action to the words, she brought out a small pine
table and placed it in the centre of the room.
Upon this table she placed a pack of common
playing cards and a glass half filled with water.

66 CLAUDIUS,

"Sit there," said she to Claudius, as she set a
chair at one side of the table. She stood at the
opposite side and taking up the pack of cards be-
gan to shuffle them in a peculiar way and finally
spread some of them upon the table, while she
kept the remainder in her hands. " Now draw
out three cards," said she, at the same time ex-
tending to him the part of the pack she had re-
tained.

Claudius did as he was told and drew out three
cards. "What have you got," asked the dame.
The tory leader spread the three cards face up
upon the table. " I have the six, four and trey of
spades, ' ' replied he. ' ' Thirteen ! ' ' groaned the old
woman. " Woe ! woe ! to you man ! "

"Now what have we here?" said she, as she
raised the half filled glass of water and looked
into it. u I see a beautiful maiden, with spark-
ling blue eyes and with golden curls. She is sit-
ting in a rustic arbor overgrown with creeping
vines. A young man approaches and she receives
him with joy ! Now she is gone ! Again I see
her, but frowns are in the place of smiles and
anger has taken the place of joy ! The vision

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 67

disappears, and another takes its place ! " she said,
as with trembling hand and tragic manner she
raised the glass still higher and gazed as if en-
tranced into its limpid depths.

UI see a burning building. The flames are
shooting skyward. Armed men are around it, and
the family whose home it was, are vainly try-
ing to save their household goods. The armed
band is gathering the horses and cattle, and now
at the command of one who seems to be their
leader, they inarch away, taking the farmer's
horses and cattle with them. But another and a
stranger apparition appears ! I see the same
armed band, led by the same leader, in deadly
combat with a larger force. Blood is flowing
freely and dead men lie around. At last the band
is overpowered and all are taken prisoners that re-
main alive except the leader and three others,
who escape by flight. Once more ! the fates
are propitious and another scene passes before
my eyes ! A country village with court house
and jail and now a gallows comes into view !
Upon the scaffold under it stand four men, one
of whom is the leader of the armed band !

68 CLAUDIUS,

Officers of the law are in attendance, and soldiers
of the patriot army surround the gallows ! Lo !
the rope is cut, and all four are launched into
eternity ! Thus have I told your future, Claudius
Smith ! You would have it so, and I am not to
blame!"

"You lie, you weather beaten hag!" shouted
Claudius. "That is not my horoscope ! You are
trying to play upon my fears and only that you are
a woman I should tear your old heart from your
shrunken body ! "

"I have told you the truth," said old Hester,
"and now you may do your worst. I do not fear
you ! You may kill an old and unprotected woman,
but what would it benefit you? You would add
one more sin to the many for which your guilty
soul must answer. And that is all ! "

The words of Claudius had aroused the old
woman's ire, and though the heavens should fall,
she would not take back a word, nor change in
the slightest degree, the horrible horoscope she
had read him.

Claudius, though disappointed and angered at
the outcome of his visit to the old hag at Call

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 69

Hollow, set out on his return to the headquarters
of his band. On his way through the mountains
he had ample time to think over the occurrences
of the evening, and though he made more than
one resolution to throw the whole thing off his
mind, his thoughts would constantly revert to the
old woman's dire prophecy. In common with
many people of the period there was in his com-
position an element of superstition which caused
him, in many instances, to do things totally at
variance (as his friends and comrades thought)
with his usual good judgment. After a toilsome
journey among rocks, through underbrush, and
over fallen tree tops, he arrived at the cave and
threw himself upon a couch for a good rest.

CHAPTER X.

The year 1777 was one of great military activity
in the Colonies, or, as had been proclaimed by
the Declaration, the United States. The struggle
for independence might be said to have reached its
climax at the end of that year. Princeton, Ben-
nington and Brandywine had been fought, and the
situation even then was favorable to the American
arms. But when, on the night of the i7th of
October, the signal fires were lighted announcing
the capture of Burgoyne, the whole country was
elevated to the highest pitch of joy. From Lake
Champlain to the Gulf of Mexico there was feast-
ing and rejoicing. The fine army under the vet-
eran General Burgoyne, in its march from Canada
to form a junction with Clinton at New York,
never anticipated so serious a check, and its offi-
cers never expected that the ragamuffin army under
Gates would even be a hindrance to their victorious
inarch.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 71

But the fortunes of war are always uncertain,
and Bemis' Heights, Saratoga and Stillwater
taught them a lesson they did not soon forget. In
South Carolina and Georgia, also, the half starved
and squalid troops of Marion and Sumter, which
had been hiding in swamps and forests, now came
forth, and with renewed energy, attacked .the
British garrisons and harrassed them by unex-
pected forays, until they were compelled to leave
their outposts in the interior and retire to the
coast.

Thus the prospects which before these events
were gloomy and depressing, became brighter and
more cheering for the patriot cause.

It was the latter part of this same year and
shortly after his appearance at the old log house,
that Claudius made a secret visit to the Onderdonk
homestead. He knew that Rein, had been com-
missioned to hunt him down and to extirpate his
band if possible, but still he determined to find
out from Katharine herself the state of her feel-
ings toward him. The tory chief loved her with
all the fervor of which his selfish heart was capa-
ble, and believed that Katharine in a measure
reciprocated those feelings.

72 CLAUDIUS,

He therefore, very unexpectedly to the whole
family, appeared at the mansion, and soon learned
from her, that under no circumstances would she,
the sister of Captain Rem. Onderdonk, and the
daughter of a staunch old Whig, become the bride
of an enemy to her country and the cause so dear
to her heart. Claudius knew well the stock from,
which she sprung and knew just as well the use-
lessness of trying to alter her mind by pleadings,,
no matter how eloquent they might be. He there-
fore took leave of her with courteous words and
polite manner, but with dire hate at heart and
half formed resolutions of vengeance in his mind.

Captain Rem. and his company, though they had
been scouring the mountains and hunting through
every gorge and valley in the range and had even
thoroughly explored the cavern that was formerly
the rendezvous of the tory gang had been unsuc-
cessful thus far in accomplishing their purpose.
The emissaries of Claudius had kept him well
posted in regard to their movements and he had
scattered his band and kept them under cover for
the present only to be gathered again when the
time was more propitious.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 73

One day in the early spring of 1778, Black
George came running almost breathless from the
direction of the forest north of the Onderdonk
dwelling, and calling the old gentleman aside,
said: "Mas' Onderdonk, de cowboys am comin'
sure! I seed dem from whar I wus cuttin' wood
jist beyant de swamp! Dar am more den forty ob
dem, and I am mos' sartin dat young Claudius
Smit am de boss ob de gang! Dey aint comin' fer
no good, and I better git de boys togedder fer to
be ready fer em, eh, Mas' Onderdonk?" "Yes,
George," replied the old man, "but if there are as
many of them as you think, we will hardly be able
to withstand them." " We kin do de bes' we kin,
Mas' Onderdonk," returned George. And having
received permission, he called the work hands of
the farm, white and black together, to defend the
place as best they could. The whole of them
when assembled numbered ten, young and old.

They were armed with anything that came
handy — axes, pitchforks and iron bars being
among the weapons provided, George and old
Martinus only, being armed with rifles. "Now,"
said George (when he had assumed the command),

74 CLAUDIUS,

"we better meet em at de barn, fer dey'll git dar
fust. I'll take Sam and de boys to help me dar,
and you, Mas' Onderdonk, and Csesar kin stay at
de house and take kar ob old missus and Miss
Katharine."

After making this disposition of his garrison,
George constituted himself a picket to watch the
movements of the marauders. He placed himself
behind one of the small outbuildings north of the
barn where he could note the first appearance of
the enemy from the direction they were expected
to come. It was now nearly dark and he had not
been on guard more than half an hour, when
through the gathering gloom he saw some moving
objects at the edge of the forest. He called Sam's
attention to them and while they were trying to
ascertain what it meant, they were astonished at
the appearance of probably thirty well armed men,
approaching from a direction at nearly right angles
from where the moving objects were first seen.

Black George, rifle in hand, stepped out from
the covering building and called out : "Hi
dar ! halt ! what you want har? Stop, right whar
you is! You har me? Don't you come any

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 75

ferder, or I'll let you know what am inside dis
fowlin' piece!" But they paid no attention to
his command and came on secure in overwhelm-
ing numbers. "Take dat, den ! dod bust yer bad
skins ! " shouted George, as he raised his rifle and
fired into the crowd. There was a yell of pain
from some one in the gang; but on they came, and
before the little band of defenders could make any
resistance they were overpowered and taken
prisoners.

After disposing of the men and boys at the barn,
Claudius, (who was in command,) gave orders to
collect the horses and cattle, while himself and a
couple of his men went to the mansion. Old
Martinus, who saw the folly of attempting to
make a stand against such a large force, was found
sitting on the porch. Katharine and her mother
were inside of the house, and though badly
frightened, were attending to their household
duties. As Claudius approached the old man,
he bade him good evening, and in his
most suave tones asked after his health. He
said he was very sorry to inconvenience him, but
that the King's forces were in need of provisions

76 CLAUDIUS,

of all kinds and he was therefore under the neces-
sity of confiscating his cattle and horses. " The
soldiers of the King must be supplied," said he,
"and his enemies should be compelled to bear
their share of the burden !"

"Claudius," said the old man, "I know what
you came for. I also know that you have the
power to take what you wish; therefore make no
excuses, but admit honestly that you came 4o rob
and plunder us, not that you may supply the
British army, but that you mean to drive off my
cattle and horses and sell them for your own
benefit."

" Well," said Claudius, "let it be as you say ; I
will not argue with you, for argument is generally
unprofitable and takes up precious time."
Just then Katharine appeared in the doorway and
was greeted by the tory chief with a courteous sal-
utation. " Good evening, Katharine ! I am happy
to meet you!" said he. "Shame upon you
Claudius ! for what you are doing," said she, and
turning to her father remarked : "We are being
stung by the viper we have warmed, but we will
let him know that, though they may rob us of our

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 77

possessions, they can never crush the spirit of the
true sons and daughters of liberty. You may do
your worst, I only despise you ! " "I am sorry
you have so bad an opinion of the soldiers of the
King, but necessity must be our plea," answered
Claudius.

Turning to his men who had gathered in front
of the house with the cattle and horses belonging
to the Onderdonk farm, ready to be driven away,
he said : " Drive on, boys ; we have a long way to
go ; and seeing the night is going to be very dark,
two of you go back and fire the barns that we may
have some light by the way." In a few moments
a bright blaze shot heavenward and lit up the sur-
rounding landscape. With a low and courteous
bow to Katharine, he mounted his horse and with
the rest of his band disappeared in the darkness.

"What have they done with George, and the
rest of the boys?" asked Katharine, as the flames
burst out anew from the great Dutch barn. "I
will go and find out," replied the old gentleman ;
and calling Csesar they went to the barn and found
that George and his companions had been securely
locked in the granary, where they would certainly

jg CLAUDIUS,

have perished but for the timely coining of their

liberators.

" Oh dear ! " groaned George as he came out and
viewed the burning buildings. "You rascal
tories ! you'll hab ter pay fer dis night's work !
Jis wait till Mas' Retn. comes back and den I guess
dar'll be an overhaulin' of dis bizness ! Oh ! Mas'
Onderdonk ! dey haint lef ' a horse nor a cow on
de hull place. Dem tory debils done took 'em all
sure ! Sarten as my name am George, I'll help put
up de job to make 'em pay for dis night's doins ! "
And with many such threats of vengeance, the
poor negro sat down upon a rock in the barn yard
and wept like a child at the destruction accom-
plished by the outlaws.

The horses and cattle were driven and sold to a
detachment of the British army lying at a point
about three miles north of Tappau, in the valley
of the Hackensack. Their plan of dispersing and
seeking their rendezvous separately, after dispos-
ing of their booty, made it almost impossible to
punish these marauders or to intercept them while
on one of their forays after cattle, as their depre-
dations were nearly always committed in the
night.

CHAPTER XL

The winter of 1778 was really the most gloomy
period of the war. Washington, with the main
body of the American army was encamped at Valley
Forge, in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania.
The clothing of the men was worn out and they
came upon the parade ground with rags dangling
from their persons. The shoes of many of 'them
were gone, and the tracks made by their bloody
feet could be seen on the frozen ground of this
valley of despair. The continental paper money had
become so much depreciated that even an officer's
pay would scarcely keep him in clothing. The win-
ter was one of the coldest ever experienced in that
latitude, and the condition of the army on that ac-
count was worse than can be described. To add
to the miseries of destitution and nakedness, sick-
ness became prevalent, and no medicines were to
be had.

But through all these adversities the fires of
patriotism still burned brightly and the spirit of

80 CLAUDIUS,

devotion to the cause of liberty animated their
hearts and upheld them in the determination to
shake off the British yoke. The picture of the
great hero on his knees, amid these scenes of
suffering and wretchedness, praying to the God of
battles for the deliverance of his beloved country
from the yoke of the oppressor, was a sure pre-
cursor of the end.

On the 6th day of February, France, through
the influence of Benjamin Franklin, acknowledged
the independence of the United States, and agreed
to send a fleet to their assistance. Thus things
began to look brighter as spring opened, and when,
on the a8th of the following June, the battle of
Monmouth was fought and won by the American
forces, the country again became hopeful.

Captain Barent Van Houten, though acting as
one of Washington's aids while his headquarters
was at the Suffern mansion, near Fort Sidman, had
remained with his company when the Commander-
in-Chief went south to Valley Forge. The time
had passed slowly and without much to interest
them, as their only duty was to guard the pass,
until the summer of 1779, when his company,

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 8l

among others, was detached to make part of the
force of General Wayne to attack Stony Point.

It was a warm morning in early July that
the order came to "fall in," and in a short
time the detachment was making its way along the
old King's road, leading from the point of the
mountain to King's Ferry. It was a hot and dusty
march and quite a number of the men succumbed
to the overpowering heat.

At a point some five or six miles south of their
destination they found Captain Rem. Onderdonk
and his company of scouts awaiting them. He had
received orders to form a junction with the men
from Fort Sidman, and, together, they took up the
march toward the fort on the Hudson.

Some time had elapsed since Barent and Rem. had
met, and many things had transpired in the old
neighborhood which interested them both. As they
journeyed together toward what might be their final
destination, Rem. told of the destruction of the
barns on the old farm, how the cowboys under
Claudius had run off the cattle and horses belong-
ing to his father and how he would make them

82 CLAUDIUS,

feel his vengeance if he was spared long enough
to accomplish it. " Barent," said Rem., " I shall
not rest until that infernal band of thieves and
bandits are destroyed, and if I come safely through
the coming fight, I shall attend strictly to that
business until it is finished. My company was re-
inforced for that purpose and I scoured the moun-
tain range from end to end to find them, but thus
far they have eluded me. Their spies are located
in every neighborhood and in every hamlet
throughout the district ; but if I once strike their
trail I will not leave it until I have run them to
earth."

"I hope you may be successful," returned
Barent, "but you have a cunning fox to deal with,
and I fear he will give you a long chase before he
is caught." "Well," said Rem., "I shall not
leave a stone unturned to destroy them and rid the
land of their presence, for there is no safety for
either age or sex so long as these scoundrels are in
existence."

At the distance of about a mile from Stony
Point the detachment was halted, and, through
the growing darkness, they saw approaching

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 83

another body of men. It was the battalion which
had landed at Sandy Beach on the Hudson, and
the two detachments meeting there were to form
the attacking force under General Wayne. It was
now nearly dark, and while the men stood at rest
in the ranks, the general rode down the line and
thus addressed them :

" I expect every man to do his duty ! That fort
must be taken, and not a musket must be fired !
Let every man draw the charge from his piece and
be sure to fix his bayonet securely, for it is only
with cold steel we must capture it ! "

Captain Rem. Onderdonk was selected to lead
the forlorn hope which was to attack the fort on
the west side as a feint, while the main body
should make the attempt from the east, or river
side.

As is well known, a negro who knew the path,
led the main body through the marsh between the
river and the bluff upon which the fort was
located. As the men still stood in the ranks
Captain Rein, stepped in front of them to call for
volunteers to form the forlorn hope. " I want," said
he, "only such men as fear God and not man !

84 CLAUDIUS,

Let those who are willing to volunteer step
one pace to the front ! " As one man, the whole
detachment advanced a step. Rem. then selected
fifty men, and under cover of the darkness imme-
diately started for the fort.

The main body followed until it came to the foot
of the promontory upon which the fort was built.
When they arrived there they halted and remained
there awaiting the attack of the forlorn hope. All
at once the rattle of musketry was heard on the
western slope and the shouts of the men as they
made the attack !

While this was going on and while the forlorn
hope was being mowed down like wheat before
the sickle, the main body under the immediate
command of Mad Anthony, was led by the old
negro through the morass and up the narrow path
leading to the fort.

They had nearly gained the summit, when they
were discovered by the garrison and a devastating
fire was poured into them. Almost at the first fire
General Wayne was wounded in the head. ' ' Carry
me at the head of the column," said the general.
His order was obeyed, and upon a stretcher he led

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 85.

the impetuous charge of his men, who with fixed
bayonets carried everything before them.

It was the work of only a few minutes to cap-
ture the fort, so overpowering was the rush of the
Americans. But the forlorn hope suffered fear-
fully. Of the fifty men composing it only ten sur-
vived ; but among these was the heroic leader.
The British loss was six hundred in killed, wound-
ed and prisoners, while the American loss was only
one hundred.

Captain Rem., whose attack and feint upon the
western side of the fort had contributed so much
to its capture, was complimented by General
Wayne for his bravery and good conduct in lead-
ing the forlorn hope. A large quantity of amuni-
tion and military stores, of which the x\merican
army stood in great need, were taken.

The fort was taken July I5th, and the next day
about half of the prisoners, under the escort of
Captains Rem. and Barent with their two com-
panies, took the road back to Fort Sid man. They
had got about one-half the distance between the
two points when night overtook them, and they
determined to halt until daylight. Their whole

86 CLAUDIUS,

force consisted of only about seventy-five men,
while their prisoners numbered more than three
hundred. They therefore took possession of the
barn and outbuildings belonging to the old country
tavern just west of Coe's corner on the old King's
road, and for safety locked the prisoners in them.
After placing a strong guard around the buildings
the officers took lodgings in the tavern for the
night.

About 2 o'clock the next morning a great com-
inotion was heard by the sentinels on guard,
among the prisoners confined in the barn, and
believing that they were about to rise and over-
power them, they fired into the barn. This firing
in the still hours of the early morning, imme-
diately aroused the officers and soldiers not on
duty, who rushed to the barn to find that four of
the prisoners had been killed and a number
wounded.

The cause of the commotion inside was found
to have been a quarrel ending in a knock down
fight among the captured soldiers. In the morn-
ing the dead men were buried behind the barn,
where their remains still lie ; but their ghosts

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 87

often (so the inhabitants say) stalk abroad and
to this day haunt a house which in after years was
built upon the site of the old barn. After the
burial of the dead prisoners, they resumed their
march and toward night of the same day arrived
at Fort Sidman.

CHAPTER XII.

While the events described in the previous
chapter were passing in different parts of the
land, a terrible and mysterious occurrence took
place in the Onderdonk family. The morning
after the capture of Stony Point the old man and
most of the family were about attending to the
morning's work and preparing to rebuild the
barns which had been destroyed by the tories,
when the old lady appeared, and with blanched
face and trembling voice, asked whether any one
had seen Katharine. They all returned a nega-
tive answer. She had not been seen by any of the
family since the previous night, when she had
bidden her parents good night and retired to
her room.

A search was immediately instituted about the
premises, and every member of the family be-
gan an investigation to find the cause of her dis-
appearance. No noises had been heard and there

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 89

were no signs of a struggle in her room, as every
article of furniture therein was in its place. Her
couch was undisturbed, showing that it had not
been occupied by her during the night. Every
piece of woodland, every thicket, and, in fact,
every place throughout the neighborhood was
searched by the family and friends ; but at night-
fall they all returned to the house unsuccessful.
She had disappeared completely and myteriously
and no one could account for it.

Of course there were suspicions — but there was
really no foundation for them until Black George
the next morning reported that he had found the
marks of footsteps in the earth under the window
of Katharine's room. He insisted that they were
the tracks of two large men, as they were of im-
mense size. He immediately set out to follow the
trail and only lost it some distance in the forest
north of the dwelling. The direction taken by
the men whose footsteps had been discovered,
caused Katharine's friends to suspect that Claudius
Smith had something to do with her unaccount-
able disappearance.

It was well known among them that the tory

90 CLAUDIUS,

chief had been a suitor for her hand and that she
had rejected his offer with disdain ; but they did
not think it possible for him to commit a crime of
this kind. They knew his crafty and covetous
nature, and that he would not hesitate to commit
almost any kind of depredation if he saw in it any
financial gain for himself ; but they did not dream
that Claudius would take so much trouble for
either love or vengeance's sake.

As might be supposed, her family, and especially
her father and mother, were overcome and nearly
crazed by the occurrence, and Black George, who
loved the young misuss, and looked up to her al-
most as to a superior being, was literally crushed
in spirit by the sad incident. He was sent to
Fort Sidman to inform Rem. of his sister's strange
disappearance, and arrived there just as Rem.
and Barent with their companies had returned
from Stony Point.

"Oh ! Mas' Rem., dis am awful ! My good-
ness ! how kin I tell you ! Oh ! it am terrible ! "
eried George, as he attempted to inform Rem. of
what had happened. "What ails you, George?
What causes you to act in this manner," said

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 9 1

Rem. "Come, tell me what brings you here?
How are the folks at home?" asked he. " De
folks am all well what am home ; but Miss Kath-
arine ain't home and we don't know whar she
am gone," answered George. And then he told
the story to Rem. as best he could, between
groans and threats of vengeance against her ab-
ductors.

"Can it be possible," said Rem., turning to
Barent, who had heard part of George's story,
" that she has been abducted by that infernal
tory? I know she disdainfully and in cutting
words refused an offer of his hand, but I can
scarcely believe that Claudius, merely to gratify
his spite, would commit a crime so detestable and
add another incentive to hunt him down like a
dog."

" This is terrible ! " said Barent, "and if there
is anything I can do to aid you in this emergency
I wish you would command me." "I do not
know in what manner you can assist me except
that your better acquaintance with Colonel
Malcolm, the commander of this post, might help
me to procure a furlough for a few days," answered

92 CLAUDIUS,

Rem. "Come," said Barent, "we will go to him
at once." And together they proceeded to the
headquarters of the commander. Colonel Malcolm
forthwith granted the request and George and
Rem. immediately set out on their journey home.

On their way to the Ouderdonk dwelling,
George gave Rem. all the particulars in re-
gard to the disappearance of his sister that he
was possessed of. " Dey mus' be slashin' big
fellers dat owned dem tracks, fer you know, Mas'
Rem., dat my feet ain't much like a baby's, and I
do declar, dat bofe of mine could git into one ob
dem tracks," said George, as they journeyed
along.

In due time they arrived at the house where
Rem. found his father and mother, bent under the
weight of sorrow that had overwhelmed them and
the whole household in a state of consternation.
He consoled the old people as well as he could by
telling them that he thought no harm would come
to Katharine, and that in all probability she would
be found and returned to them in safety.

He examined the ground around the house and
with the help of George followed the trail made by

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 93

the abductors far into the forest and made one dis-
covery which George had failed to notice. That
was the place where two horses had been standing,
as shown by the ground being stamped over by their
feet. Here, no doubt, was the place where Kath-
erine had been placed upon one of the horses and
taken to some secure point in the mountains, but
where that was, no one thus far could tell.

After finding out all he could and encouraging
the old farmer and his wife to the best of his
ability, Rem. was obliged to leave the old home
and repair to the scene of duty. He had intended
ere this to have started on another hunt for the
cowboy band, but other duties had kept him from
it, and the state of affairs was still such as to
prevent his immediate prosecution of that purpose.

CHAPTER XIII.

The latter part of the year 1779 had been a
period of gloom and misfortune to the American
arms, especially in the South, where, at Savannah,
the combined American and French forces had
been repulsed by the British army occupying that
city.

Affairs at the North were also in such a condi-
tion as to keep our hero and his friend Barent
fully employed at Fort Sidman and King's Ferry,
and the west bank of the Hudson which it was
necessary to patrol constantly. At this time, the
beginning of the year 1780, quite a large detach-
ment of the American army was stationed at
Tappan, where Washington occupied the DeWint
mansion as his headquarters. The old building
still stands, as strong and substantial as ever. It is
built of stone excepting the front, which is com-
posed of brick brought from Holland, and the
date, 1700, is masoned into the front, where it is
still as legible as when placed there, one hundred
and ninety-four years ago.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 95

Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander at
New York, was continually sending out bands of
tories and regulars to devastate the country within
a radius of thirty miles of the city. One of these
bands marched up the Hackensack Valley, burning
the farm houses and, in many instances, murdering
old and decrepit men whose extreme age inca-
pacitated them for military duty. This predatory
gang burned the settlement of Closter in New
Jersey, and bayoneted in cold blood several Whigs
who were too old to run away or make any resist-
ance.

About this time, too, there was enacted a tragedy
which should have caused the blush of shame to
mantle the cheek of every actor in it. Colonel
Baylor, with part of a troop of light horse, had
taken possession of a barn for the night in a
neighborhood called old Tappan, about a mile west
of Tappan proper. While sleeping, they were
surprised and surrounded by a large detachment
of British and tories, under the command of a
blood-thirsty officer of the British army. They
were so thoroughly taken by surprise that they did
not have the opportunity to fire a shot, and sur-

96 CLAUDIUS,

rendered at discretion. Instead of being held as
prisoners of war the most of them were imme-
diately shot or bayoneted. Every one of them
would have been butchered but for the humanity
of a British officer who dared to disobey the orders
of his commander. Their bodies were thrown in-
to the vats of an old tannery near by.

Such actions had the effect of putting a more
malignant face on a struggle which already had
begun to assume all the horrors of civil strife ; and
it aroused the patriots to more determined efforts
and gave them reason for retaliation when the oc-
casion offered.

The duties of the revolutionary scouts were
onerous in the extreme. They were expected to
patrol thoroughly certain portions of the country,
intercept and repulse, if possible, these predatory
bands, and report to the headquarters of the com-
mander of the district, any movements of the
larger bodies of the enemy. They were in fact the
police of the time, protecting the non-combatants
and circumventing the evil disposed persons who
always, in time of war, take advantage of the condi-
tion of the country to prey upon their neighbors.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 97

Thus we may understand that Captain Rem.
and his company had enough to engage their at-
tention and to fully employ their time.

On the evening Miss Katharine Onderdonk dis-
appeared she had retired to her room about eleven
o'clock. The air was somewhat sultry and hoi,
and sitting down at the bedside she took up a
book that was lying upon the table and began to
read. She had been reading perhaps half an hour
and was just upon the point of retiring when a
strong hand grasped her from behind and a heavy
blanket was thrown over her head, completely
smothering any outcry that she might attempt to
make. She was then lifted bodily from the chair
and, the window being raised by some one from
the outside, was placed gently upon her feet on
the ground. The two men then picked her up
and carried her, with the blanket still about her,
until they arrived at the edge of the forest about
half a mile from the house. They then lifted the
blanket from her, and placed a heavy bandage over
her eyes. "Come," said one of the men, "it is
easier for us that you should walk, and it will be
7

98 CLAUDIUS,

more pleasant for you to keep quiet than to make
any noise." One of the men took her arm, and,
in the darkness, led her (she knew not whither) for a
considerable distance, and then came to a halt. In
a short time she was lifted upon a horse in front
of one of her captors, and the word was given to
proceed.

On through the forest, up the mountain side,
over rocks and through underbrush, the little
cavalcade wended its way, until Katharine could
begin to distinguish through the bandage the
breaking of the day. Thus far she had main-
tained a strict silence, knowing full well the
futility of any protestation she might make ; but
now she asked what was meant by their carrying
her off in this manner, away from her old and
infirm parents, and what evil thing she had
done to be thus treated ?

The only answer she received was to be lifted
from the horse and led down what seemed to her
an almost endless stairway. At the bottom they
stopped, a door grated on its hinges, opened, and
shut again, as she was ushered into what she
found to be a subterranean room of about ten feet

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 99

square. A lamp was burning on a table in the
centre. A lounge, upholstered in damask, stood
in one corner, while in a recess was a small
library filled with books. The room also con-
tained three or four chairs.

Alone, and not knowing where she was, the
thoughts which came into her mind were far from
being of a consoling nature. She knew that her
parents would be almost distracted by her sudden
and unaccountable disappearance and that, at their
age, it might have a fatal issue. But she also
knew there was no use in whining and weeping
over the matter, and she therefore determined to
make the best of her surroundings and wait
patiently for deliverance. Katharine was not of
the whimpering and weeping kind ; but of that
nature which rises to the occasion as the difficulties
become greater, and the obstacles seem more in-
surmountable. She saw no one for some hours,
and then a _small 'colored girl was let in by the
outside guardian of her prison. She carried some
refreshments on a server, which she placed upon
the table. There were some fruit, a loaf of bread,
and a small bottle of wine. Though her appetite

100 CLAUDIUS,

was not of the best, she knew that for the sake of
her health and strength she must eat and drink too.
She therefore ate of the fruit sparingly and drank
a small glass of the wine.

She tried to find out from the young African
who had brought her there and what was the
cause of her incarceration ? But she might just
as well have interrogated the walls of the cavern.
She was either an idiot or else had been told to
keep her mouth closed and was obeying that in-
junction to the letter, for Katharine could not get
one word from her, good or bad. She therefore
gave it up.

The little girl had been inside but a short time
when a rap was heard at the door, and she grasped
the server and was let out by the unseen sentinel.

Several days and nights must have passed before
Katharine saw any human being except the colored
attendant. There was no way of distinguishing
day from night, as no ray of sunshine ever pene-
trated her gloomy abode. This confinement
became very monotonous, and, at times, tears of
sorrow for her suffering parents and friends would
moisten the eyes of the captive.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 1OI

The little library was a great relief to her and
she spent most of the time in reading the books it
contained and which had been selected with great
good taste, comprising the best works of the day
both in fact and fiction. But her thoughts were
constantly reverting to the loved ones at
home who knew not whether she was dead or
alive, and this worried her more than anything
else.

It was probably a week after she had ar-
rived there that Katharine heard a heavy footstep
outside. The key grated in the lock, the door
swung back on its rusty hinges, and the tory
chief entered the room. He was dressed with
extra care. His buckskin breeches and leggings
were new and bright, a fine broadcloth coat cov-
ered his person, and a broad silk crimson sash was
coiled around his waist. With a low and courtly
bow he saluted the captive maiden. Without return-
ing his salutation she arose from the chair upon
which she had been sitting and fastened her eyes
upon him with a look full of disdain and defiance.

"My dear Miss Onderdonk," said Claudius, "I
am sorry to have discommoded you, but I was com-

102 CLAUDIUS,

pelled to it, as it was the only way in which I
could be assured of your society and be certain of
an uninterrupted conversation with you. The
times are uncertain and tempestuous, the country
is overrun by armed bands, and so under the cir-
cumstances, it was the best I could do. I hope
you will forgive me ! " " Claudius Smith ! " said
she, "if manhood or honor had any part in your
constitution, the blush of shame would now man-
tle your cheek ! You have used your power to
carry off and incarcerate a defenseless woman,
when you knew her friends, and especially those
who are strong enough to protect her were away,
fighting the battles of their country. If you have
a spark of honor left in your heart you will take
me from this gloomy cavern and let me return to
my old and decrepit parents who need my assist-
ance every hour."

''My dear Katharine!" returned he, " If I
should do as you desire, I would be deprived of
your sweet company, the enjoyment of which is
the one great reason of your presence here at this
moment." "If," replied she, " you could under-
stand the horror and disgust I experience in your

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 103

presence, bad as you are, I believe you would take
pity on me and rid me of it ! "

These words angered Claudius so much that he
forgot his usual cool and calculating manner ; and
rising, he stepped toward Katharine as if to lay
his hands upon her. Before he could reach her,
however, she drew a small dagger from her bosom
and raising it aloft, said : " Come one step nearer,
and I shall plunge this into my heart ! If you
thought to wreak your vengeance on me, you
may ; but it will be only on my dead body ! The
daughter of a patriot and the sister of one of the
sons of liberty, does not fear death and would em-
brace it a thousand times, rather than submit to
dishonor ! " Her eyes flashed fire, and her whole
demeanor told Claudius that she was not to be
trifled with. He therefore retreated to his seat
near the door of the cavern. "Well," said he,
rising, "I will leave you for the present, hoping
that at some future time, you may be in better
humor." " Go," said she ! u your presence lends
an added horror to this imprisonment."

At a signal the door opened and Claudius passed
out leaving Katharine alone, a prey to her own

104 CLAUDIUS,

bitter reflections on her present condition, and the
faint prospect of her friends ever discovering the
place of her confinement.

The place where she was imprisoned was
situated in the roughest and least frequented part
of the Ramapo mountain range several miles from
the big cavern where the cowboys had their head-
quarters. One might pass a thousand times within
a few feet of the mouth of this cave and not dis-
cover it. It was so completely hidden by bunches
of mountain laurel which grew around the en-
trance that it would, be a mere accident if it was
found.

As Claudius stepped out he said to the sentinel :
" See to it that she is provided with plenty of food
and look out that no prowling mountain hunter
discovers the place." "All right," replied the
man, "I will be careful."

The tory chief struck off into a mountain path
leading to the east. After following it for about a
quarter of a mile he came to a small log cabin
almost hidden by the dense foliage of beech and
hemlock which surrounded it. As he entered he
was greeted by an old negress of perhaps eighty
years.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 105

u Ise so glad you come," said she, "Ise bin
lookin' for you a good while." "Well, what can
I do for you, Aunt Sue?" said Claudius, as he
sat down upon the only chair in the little room.
"I 'spec a little money will come good. Ise done
spent mos' all you lef ' me de udder time ; an' de
young gal ober in de cave dar mus' hab something
to eat," replied the aged African. "That is
right, Aunt Sue," answered he, " I want you to
fix up things nicely for her while she stays with
us, and be sure to send it to her regularly."
Claudius took a handful of coin from his pocket
and threw it into the old woman's lap, saying,
"There, aunty, I guess there will be enough to
last until I come again." "Yes," said she, "I
tink so ; and now I mus' send de little one off to
de store agin." "The little one" spoken of by
the old negress was the colored attendant of Kath-
arine, who also lived with the old woman in the
little log house.

The tory captain now left the cabin and took a
path leading down the western side of the range.
He followed this path until it brought him out into
the Ramapo valley about a mile north of Man of War

106 CLAUDIUS,

Rock. He then continued up the valley, follow-
ing the east bank of the Ramapo river for half a
mile more, which brought him in sight of his
father's tavern, when he came to a halt. From
this point he could get a good view of the premi-
ses. It was some time before he ventured further,
but when he had satisfied himself that the coast
was clear, he took a short cut across the meadow
and went to the house'.

It had become necessary for him to use caution
as he had become in a measure a marked man, and
many were on the lookout to capture him. His
many crimes and depredations (as noted before)
had aroused the country and made it dangerous for
him to appear in the settled portions of the dis-
trict without a sufficient force at his back to pro-
tect him. But on this occasion, being sure that
everything was quiet, he boldly entered his father's
house.

Some time had passed since he had visited them
and the old people received him with every appear-
ance of joy. To tell the truth, and, as the old
saying has it, "to give the devil his due,"
Claudius had always been to them an affectionate

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 107

son. Though he had committed many a cruel
deed, at heart he was not one of those who gloated
over and relished these actions. It must be ad-
mitted that circumstances had something to do
with his bad reputation, and that if those circum-
stances had been different, Claudius also might
have led a different life.

When the war broke out, he was no doubt hon-
estly in favor of and an upholder of the policy of
the King and Parliament. But being born and
brought up in a neighborhood which happened to
be intensely patriotic, and his family being one
out of a hundred to espouse the cause of King
George, he and they, were no doubt more or less
persecuted for opinion's sake. His disposition
therefore became in a manner soured, and
he began that predatory warfare, which, in
after years, made his name a synonym for all that
was treacherous and cruel.

Nature had not been niggardly in her favors to
Claudius. His frame was of iron, his intellect was
above the average, and all who knew him had to
acknowledge that his was the perfection of manly
beauty.

108 CLAUDIUS,

As he entered the house he met his mother and
throwing his arms around her neck, imprinted a
kiss upon her wrinkled cheek. "How have you
fared this long time, mother? " said he. "I have
often wished to see you all, but business has kept
me from it !" " Oh ! I have often longed to see
you, my boy ; and many a sleepless night have I
spent thinking of you ; but I suppose you cannot
always come when you would like to," replied his
mother.

"That is true; business is sometimes impera-
tive and must be attended to when duty calls,"
said Claudius. "Has Cobus been here lately?"
asked he. "No," answered his mother, "but we
are expecting him to-night. We heard from him
yesterday, as one of your men passed here, and he
told us he had seen him near King's Ferry in the
morning and that we might expect him home to-
night."' "I hope he will come," said Claudius,
"as I wish to consult with him on some important
business."

It was quite late in the evening when a rap was
heard at the door, and on opening it Cobus walked
in. " Good evening all ! " said Cobus, and as he

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 109

saw the tory leader, he cried : " Hello, Claudius !
you here? So those noble patriots have not yet
caught you, eh?" "No," replied he, "not yet ;
though they have given me more than one close
chase thus far I have eluded them."

After partaking of a supper prepared by their
mother, the cowboy chief and Cobus retired to an
inner room for consultation.

"Cobus," said his brother, "you know I sup-
pose, that the Whigs and traitors hereabout, are
determined to disperse and destroy our band at all
hazards." That arch traitor Washington, it is
said, is interesting himself in the matter, and has
given positive orders to annihilate us, no matter
what number of men it shall take or what it may
cost. Now, from henceforth, it stands us in hand
to move with the greatest caution ; and what we
do, mtfst be done with the greatest secrecy. Thus
far we have been very successful in all our un-
dertakings. What the future may have in store for
us, is hard to determine, but with our tried and
true men the bulk of whom have proved them-
selves loyal to us in many a close and desperate
skirmish, we ought to be able to accomplish a

HO CLAUDIUS,

great deal, not only for ourselves, but for the cause
we have espoused."

"Yes," answerd Cobus, "what you say is true,
but that love escapade of yours, I mean the ab-
duction of old Onderdonk's daughter has aroused
a bitter and desperate feeling against us, not only
in her immediate family, but throughout the
whole district and her brother will no doubt, just
as soon as his other duties will permit, not leave
a stone unturned to find her and take vengeance
on her captors.

"They do not know certainly who accomplished
that job," said Claudius. "No," said Cobus,
" they do not know, but they have good reason to
suspect, for they know that you were one of her
suitors and are really the only one who would dare
to abduct her." "Well let that pass," returned
Claudius, " and let them suspect whom they like.
I am ready to take the chances of their ven-
geance."

" Cobus," said Claudius, " there lives about five
miles west of the Hudson, an old and wealthy
farmer by the name of Van der Blum, who owns a
large herd of cattle, besides numerous horses. I

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. Ill

think it is practicable for us to make a descent on
his premises, and capture them. I would like to
have it done without causing bloodshed, but in
any case we must try to get them, because it will
be a very easy matter to run them into the British
lines and get well paid for our trouble. The attack
must be made at night and then we can get them to
their destination before morning and thus escape
the scouting parties who are watching every move-
ment made."

Thus were these brothers in iniquity concocting
another dastardly scheme to rob their neighbors.

CHAPTER XIV.

After the abduction of Katharine, Black George
was ill at ease. He went about his daily duties on
the farm with a gloomy countenance and at times
seemed so much preoccupied as not to notice what
took place about him. "Mas' Onderdonk," said
he one day, addressing the old gentleman, UI
would jis like ter go huntin' fer a spell. De work
on de farm ain't in bad shape now, and my 'pinion
am dat dar am some deer in de mountain dis fall
and if you can spar me dis nigger would jist like
to take a trip. If you tink you can say yes, I'll
fix up de ole rifle and git up in de mornin' airly
and start.".

George was aware of his master's fondness for
venison and had broached the subject by a shrewd
mention of that dainty, and he also knew that the
loss of his daughter had made the old man more in-
dulgent to those around him than ever before. So
when he received the expected permission he im-
mediately set about preparing for the hunt. He

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 113

cleaned the old smooth bore rifle, moulded some
bullets and was ready to start by day break.

Black George, though he had made hunting the
excuse for wishing a vacation, had other business
in mind beside that ; and as he journeyed alone,
he thus communed with himself. " Dis nigger am
goin' ter hunt, but not fer deer and sich like. I is
tarmined to find out what dey've done wid my
young missus if it takes de hull week. Dey've
got her some whar in .dese mountains, dat am
sartin, and I mus' lay some plan ter find out whar
dey've kep' her. De fust thing I mus' do am ter
go an' see ole Aunt Hester up dar in Call Holler.
Dey do say dat she kin tell whar ter find whats
bin los', an' I belieb I'll try her."

It was toward evening when George reached
Call Hollow and came in sight of the old log
house and home of Aunt Hester, the fortune teller.
He was, like most of his race, very supersti-
tious, and when he knocked at the door, his hand
trembled with excitement. He had heard, as who
had not, of the old woman's strange and myterious
power and he looked upon her as being something

114 CLAUDIUS,

greater and several degrees higher than the gener-
ality of mortals. George knocked several times
before there was any answer, but the door finally
opened slowly, and in a cracked voice the old
crone asked, what was wanted.

"I'se come ter ask you some questions about
something I'se los', " said George. "Come in
then," said she. "But what makes you think I
can tell you where to find what you have lost?"
" O, I don't know edzactly, but I heerd you
could," replied George. "Well, have you any
money? for unless you have, the secret cannot be
revealed," continued the old lady. This question
caused the negro to wince, as he had very little
money, and what he did have, he hated terribly to
part with. Finally, after deep reflection, he ad-
mitted he had a few shillings.

"I must have silver or the charm will not
work," said Aunt Hester. "Any how, it's got
to be done, and if I mus', den I mus," said
George, as he laid a silver shilling in her hand.
11 Now sit down on this chair and tell me what you
have lost," said she, as she sat down opposite to
where George was sitting. He then related to the

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 115

old fortuneteller the story of Katharine's disappear-
ance and gave her all the particulars he remem-
bered of the sad affair, winding up with the asser-
tion : " We can't find her no whar. "

Aunt Hester sat for some time as though in deep
thought. Her eyes were closed, and her whole ap-
pearance seemed as one in a trance. Suddenly she
straightened up, opened her eyes and said : "She is
locked up in a small cavern in these mountains.
Two men, obeying the orders of another, took her
from her home and carried her some distance and
then placed her on a horse, and before daybreak,
shut her in this cave, where she is still. There is
a path, but little used, that leads to the top of the
ridge where an old and blasted hemlock stands I
Not far from the tree, there is a little cabin and
the persons who live in that can tell you where she
is. Find that hemlock with a dead and lightning
splintered top and you will not be far from your
young missus."

This being all the information he could get
from the old woman, George took his departure
and went in quest of the path that led to the old
tree at the top of the ridge. He kept along the

1 1 6 CLAUDIUS,

base of the mountain, scanning closely everything
that looked like a path in the right direction until
it got too dark to distinguish anything. He then
prepared to camp out, a not unusual thing for him
on his hunting expeditions. Finding a secluded
place under an overhanging rock against the
mountain side, he was soon sleeping soundly,
oblivious to all things earthly.

The next morning he arose bright and early,
and after partaking of a frugal break fast of bread and
cheese which he had carried in his hunting pouch,
he again began his search. Still following the moun-
tain base toward the northeast he finally struck an
almost imperceptable trail, which seemed to lead up
the mountain side and toward a point which, in his
own mind, he thought must be the right direction.
Turning into it he followed it for a consider-
able distance and until it brought him out
upon a table rock of some extent where he could
get a view, not only of the country beneath him,
but also a long stretch of the ridge above.

He stopped there to reconnoitre and find his
bearings. Toward the south and east the beauti-
ful and fruitful valleys of the Hackensack and

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 1 1/

Pascack stretched out, while toward the north and
west his view was limited by the long range of the
Ramapo hills and the rugged peaks of Verdritige
Hook stretching almost from where he stood to the
precipitous rock which juts far out into the waters
of the Hudson.

While standing there his eyes wandered over the
range toward the north, and he was just about
starting on the path again when all at once
*he caught a glimpse of a huge hemlock whose
naked branches were outlined against the sky, far
up on the summit of the ridge above him. Grasp-
ing his rifle tighter, and thinking of the old for-
tune teller's description, Black George, with
renewed energy, continued the ascent.

The distance was greater than it seemed as there
was more than one intervening precipice and
rocky gorge which it was necessary to flank or
avoid. But he trudged on, saying to himself :
" Dat ole woman done tole de truth, I'se sure ! Dat
am de tree wid de dead lims at de top, de same as
she tole me. Oh ! lor' a massy ! if dis nigger kin
only fine out whar dey am keepen her, wont ole
Mas' Onderdonk an' Captain Rem. be glad ? "

Il8 CLAUDIUS,

At last the path brought him to the summit and
very near the great hemlock. There it stood just
as the dame of Call Hollow had described it — a
large thunder-riven tree, whose topmost branches
had been blasted by the lightning's flash, and whose
giant proportions made it the monarch of the
mountain. And there also, not more than a hun-
dred yards from it, stood the little cabin, a
diminutive log house, which George recognized at
once, from the description given by Aunt Hester.

He kept back out of sight as much as possible,
in the thick undergrowth of the forest, and
made up his mind to watch the cabin and find out
whether the occupants had any visitors. It was
nearly noon when he reached the summit of the
mountain and he had been concealed about an
hour, when from his hiding place he saw a man
enter the log house. He was heavily armed, and
dressed in half military and half hunting costume,
a three-cornered hat, and a buckskin hunting
jacket, and breeches, and a crimson scarf or sash
was wound around his waist. This dress showed
that he belonged to some band of irregulars, who
fought on their own hook, and was a certain sign,

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 119

in George's estimation, that he was one of the
tory gang of Claudius.

George continued to watch until the man came
out of the house, followed by a little colored girl,
and together they started in a westerly direction
from the house. The girl had a small basket in
her hand while the man carried a pitcher of
water, or some other liquid. The negro crawled
out of his hiding place and followed the pair as
best he could without being seen. He kept them
in sight for about five minutes, when, in a twink-
ling, they both disappeared. "Well, now den!
don't dat beat all ? " said George to himself. "Dey
mus a gone ker chuck, into de ground ! But jis
wait. Dis darkey am bound fer to fine de hole
whar dey gone in, if it takes de hull day." And
as he said this he sat down in a clump of bushes
to await their reappearance.

It was near a bunch of laurel where he had lost
sight of them and it was this spot that he kept his
eye upon. He did not have long to wait, for in a
few minutes a little black head arose as it were
from behind the bush and its owner tripped lightly
back along the path leading to the log cabin.

120 CLAUDIUS,

George now determined to get close enough to the
spot to make sure what kind of a place it was, and
getting down on his hands and knees, he crawled
toward the place as carefully as he could.

It was sometime before he got there, as he did
not wish to be seen from the cabin, and more than
that, he did not know how many more armed men
were hidden about. After considerable labor, he
reached the spot, and raising himself to his feet,
saw just behind the laurel bush the entrance to the
cavern. Quietly dropping upon his hands and
knees again, he crawled away as silently as possible,
and was soon out of sight and hearing from the
cabin and its inmates.

"Oh glory!" said George, when he got far
enough away. u I foun' de spot fer sartin ! Dat
am de place dey've got her shut in. An' if we
don't make dem fellers sorry fer dat job, den my
name ain't George." Occasionally thinking aloud
in the manner noted above, he took the shortest
road for home, and arrived there just as darkness
closed in around the Onderdonk homestead.

Of course, his first business was to report what
he had. discovered to old Martinus and the rest of

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 121

the family, and then to make arrangements to
inform Rem. also. He was believed to be with
his company between Tappan and King's Ferry
and George was dispatched early the next morning
to find him, and tell the good news.

The discovery George had made in the moun-
tains created quite a commotion in the neighbor-
hood, and several of the inhabitants volunteered
to aid in rescuing Katharine from the power of
the outlaws. But as nearly all the able-bodied
men were enlisted in the service of their country,
the main dependence must be placed upon Rem,
and such of his company as could be spared to
accompany him.

George found Rein on the borders of Quashpeake
Lake, and most of his company scattered along
that part of the Hudson immediately east of the
lake. He was highly elated when he heard George
relate what he had discovered, and though < he was
not entirely certain that the person imprisoned in
the cavern -was his sister, he had good reason to
believe it to be she. "In any case," said Rem,
"they have some one shut up there, and it is our
duty to liberate whoever it may be."

122 CLAUDIUS,

He gathered about him a dozen or more of his
men, and leaving Dirck in command of the re-
mainder, started forthwith for the mountains. By
a forced march they arrived the next night at the
foot of the hills where the path discovered by
George led up to the summit They halted here
temporarily, to give the men a rest. When dark-
ness had fairly set in, George, at the command of
Rem, took the lead, and with the rest following in
single file began the ascent. In silence, each man
following in the footsteps of the other, they slowly
and cautiously wended their way to the summit
and arrived at the foot of the blasted hemlock near
midnight. There they remained until daylight
began to streak the eastern sky, when, still led by
the faithful negro, they quietly surrounded the
mouth of the cavern. So silently had they come
thai even the sentinel had not discovered their
presence.

At a motion from Rem. the men brought their
rifles to a present, and while thus prepared he
picked up a fragment of rock and threw it into the
entrance to the cavern. It could be heard tumbling

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 123

from one rocky step to another, until it landed at
the bottom.

At once a noise as of startled footsteps was heard,
and up rushed the sentinel, (who no doubt had
been quietly sleeping), only to look into the muz-
zles of a dozen rifles, held dangeronsly near his
head. "Surrender !" shouted Rem, in a voice
that resounded through the rocky ravines and came
echoing back in a hundred different tones. The
sentinel seeing there was no help for it quietly de-
livered his rifle and other arms, and was placed in
charge of two of the company. "Hand over the key
to this infernal hole in the rocks !" demanded
Rem ; "that I may set at liberty whoever is con-
fined therein ! "

Taking the key, and followed closely by Black
George, Rem. led the way down the incline to the
doorway of the prison. Unlocking the heavy door
which guarded the entrance, he swung it back, and
stepped into the room. There sat Katharine, near
a table and in an attitude of defiance as though she
expected to again meet her persecutor. She was
completely dazed and for a moment seemed almost
struck dumb.

I24 CLAUDIUS,

"My dear sister!" cried Rem, "do you not
know me ? " As he said this, she sprang into his
arms. " Oh Rein !" was all she could utter, as
her head dropped upon his shoulders, and she
burst into tears ! " Oh Rem! have you come at
last? I have looked for you so long !" said she
as she still clung about his neck. " Yes, my dear
Katharine, I have come to set you free, but we all
have this faithful friend to thank for finding out
where you were confined." Thus saying, he pushed
George forward into the light. " But for his perse-
vering shrewdness, we might never have found
you." "Why, George, how can I ever thank
you enough or repay you for this?" said Kath-
arine. "You paid me a hundred times fore now,
Miss Katharine," replied he. "I is only glad ter
git you out ob dis awful place." " Come, let us
get away from this miserable hole," said Rem,
and taking his sister's arm, led her out into the
free mountain air.

"Oh, Rem!" said she, "I feel as though in
another world and I do not know how to be grate-
ful enough for getting me out of that lonesome and
gloomy place. Though I have not been ill

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 125

treated or abused by my captors, still the suffering
in mind I have endured through these long and
dreary weeks of imprisonment, almost drove me
insane. The thought that my friends were igno-
rant of the place of my confinement and that the
chances of ever being able to find it were few and
distant, worried me terribly ! How are father and
mother, Rem ? Oh ! I have thought so much
about them, and how they suffered in mind, on ac-
count of my absence that for many nights I did
not close my eyes to sleep." " Of course, they
were almost crazed at first, but on account of the
encouragement of friends and myself, they have
borne up under this affliction better than could
have been expected," replied Rem.

The journey down the mountain was very trying
to Katharine, as in her imprisonment nearly all
exercise had been denied her ; but the anticipation
of soon meeting her parents and friends again
nerved her for the effort and when they arrived at
the base of the mountain she insisted on continu-
ing the journey on foot to her home. They there-
fore continued on; and reached their destination
early in the evening of the same day.

126 CLAUDIUS,

There was great rejoicing in the old mansion
where for some time there had been nothing but
bitter sorrow, and the old people seemed to take
on a new lease of life now, that their beloved
daughter had been returned to them, almost as
one raised from the dead. Katharine's bosom
friend, Mary Demaray, had, during the whole time
of her absence, acted the part of a daughter to the
old people. She visited them daily, and by many
little attentions and in every way encouraging
them by her hopeful and cheering conduct had
kept up their spirits under their sad and terrible
affliction.

Leaving Katharine at home in the bosom of her
family and among friends whose love she prized,
we will follow Captain Rem. on his return to the
borders of Lake Quashpeake near the banks of the
Hudson. Though it was hard to break away from
the joyful and reunited family, the call to duty wa s
imperative, and Rem. and his men set out imme-
diately for their scouting ground.

CHAPTER XV.

Captain Rembrandt Onderdonk and his little
company were on their way to the scenes of their
duty and had just passed through a small piece of
wood land and were about to cross a meadow two
miles west of their destination, when one of his
men discovered a British officer alone under a
tree on the opposite side. The young scout who
had made the discovery had recently purchased a
new rifle and had had no opportunity to test its
qualities up to this time. He therefore determined
to try it now. It was a long shot, but lying down on
the ground he rested the piece over one of the rails
of a fence near by, and taking a long and true
aim, fired ! The unfortunate officer dropped stone
dead, shot through the heart. He belonged to a
detachment lying just over the ridge and near the
Hackensack river.

It may be said, and truely too, that such actions
did not come within the bounds of civilized war-
fare, but the burning of Closter, the massacre of

!28 CLAUDIUS,

Colonel Baylor and his troops at Old Tappan and
the murder of many old and decrepit men by the
tories and British soldiers, had aroused such a bit-
ter and revengeful feeling throughout the land
that many things were done now, and thought to
be fair retaliation, which, but for them, would have
been condemned by all. After this incident they
struck off to the north for the purpose of avoiding
the British pickets who were stationed quite a dis-
tance up the Hackensack valley. They had got
almost to the end of their journey when Captain
Rem. was notified by one of his men, who had re-
mained behind when the expedition was sent to
liberate his sister, that the cowboys would that
night attack the Van der Blum place, which was
located about three miles west of where they
were. The scout had made the discovery while
patroling the country just north of the Van der
Blum farm. He saw the gang, or a part of them
in concealment in a thicket about a mile from the
place to be attacked, and had overheard them dis-
cussing their plans.

Captain Onderdonk immediately determined to
frustrate their designs if possible. For that pur-

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 129

pose he gave orders to his men to proceed to the
place separately and to keep under cover as much as
they could. They all got there unseen by every
one except the family. The old fanner was
highly pleased to receive such a reinforcement at
such a critical time, and treated the men to every-
thing the place afforded. The scouts were
secreted in the dwelling and in a short time were
prepared to receive the marauders.

Just as the last ray of daylight disappeared in
the west, the cowboys emerged from the forest
about a quarter of a mile north of the house.
About half of them, obeying the orders of their
leader, proceeded to collect the herd of some
twenty cattle which were pasturing in the
meadows between the woodland and the barns,
while the other half came directly to the barn.
Without pretending to ask the consent of the
owner, they went into the barn and in a very short
time brought out the horses, tethered them to-
gether, and were ready to move away.

They had just passed the house, believing
themselves secure ' from interruption by the old
9

130 CLAUDIUS,

couple and the few female servants they knew to
be in their employ, not even taking the trouble to
investigate whether there might not be some others
there, when into their rear was poured a withering
fire, which either killed or wounded nearly half of
the band. Before they recovered from their
astonishment, Rem. and his men rushed out, and
before the cowboys could rally and return the fire,
another volley was sent into their ranks.

"Now for them !" cried Rem, as he ordered
his men to use the bayonet ! "Give it to them
boys!" And with a rush they were upon them
with the naked steel. The cowboys could not
stand before this onslaught, and took to their
heels, except those who were too badly wounded
or lay dead upon the ground. As they were run-
ning away, several of them turned and fired, but
with little effect, as only one of the defenders was
wounded.

During the fray, Rem. hunted for Claudius with
the savageness of a tiger after its prey, but he was
not to be found as the expedition was commanded
by his brother Cobus. Having left their dead and
wounded on the ground, it became the duty of

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 131

Rem. and his men to bury the dead and to care
for those who had received injuries. The wounded
men had their wounds dressed, and the next morn-
ing the dead (five in number) were buried at the
edge of the forest. The wounded, to the number
of four, were left at the farm house in charge of four
of Rem's company until they were strong enough
to be disposed of as prisoners.

After attending to this part of the business the
remainder of the company left for the lake. This
fortunate intervention of Captain Onderdonk and
his scouts saved the old farmer an amount of pro-
perty whose loss would have seriously crippled him
for years, and he gratefully acknowledged his
indebtedness to the scouts for their opportune
arrival on the scene.

CHAPTER XVI.

The war, which had been dragging along for
nearly five years, was still being prosecuted with
varying success by both sides. At times, the King's
forces were successful and everything looked dark
for the patriot cause, and then again the American
arms would triumph, and cause rejoicing through-
out the land, and a consequent depression in the
feelings of those who sympathized with the King
and Parliament.

One of the most depressing and terrible blows
the cause of liberty had yet received, occurred dur-
ing the latter part of this year 1780. General
Arnold, through interceding with Washington,
had obtained the command of the fortress at West
Point on the Hudson, at that time the most im-
portant post in America. He then proposed to
Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander at New
York, to surrender the post and Major John Andre,
132

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 133

the Adjutant General of the British army, was sent
to confer with him on that subject. He ascended
the river in the Vulture, an English sloop of war,
landed near West Point, and at midnight met and
had a conference with the traitor, at what has
since been designated as the Treason House near
the village of Haverstraw and which was then
owned by one Joshua Hett Smith.

Andre's intention was, after the conference was
ended, to again board the Vulture and return in her
to New York. But while he was on shore Captain
Onderdonk's company of scouts which was patrol-
ling the west bank of the Hudson at that point,
opened fire on the vessel, and she dropped down
the river. Morning dawned before they had com-
pleted their plans and Andre was left within the
American lines. He then determined to cross the
river and return to New York that way. He reached
Tarrytown in safety, but there he was arrested by
three militiamen named Paulding, Williams and
Van Wart, who searched him, and finding papers
on his person which led them to believe he was a
spy they took him to the nearest military post.
Though he attempted to bribe them in every way,

iM*~

134 CLAUDIUS,

these incorruptible patriots, though poor and
needy, refused his offer, and conducted him to
Colonel Jamison.

Andre was finally taken across the river to Tap-
pan and there imprisoned in the Yost Mabie
house, since known as the Seventy-six House, un-
til he could be tried as a spy. Captain Barent Van
Houten and his company, after the capture of
Stony Point, had been on duty at Fort Sidman and
the different fortifications in Ramapo Pass, but
were now ordered to Tappan to act as a guard
around the prison of Major Andre. On their way
there they stopped at the Van Houton home for a
rest. Old Rulof received them with gladness, and
set before them everything in the shape of refresh-
ments that the house afforded.

While in the old neighborhood Barent took ad-
vantage of the occasion to call upon his betrothed.
He found Mary in a cheerful mood, as her particu-
lar friend Katharine Onderdonk had just been
rescued from the tory gang of Claudius, and the
great rejoicing in the neighborhood on account of
that event made his visit there a pleasant occasion.

In the afternoon Barent and Mary, together

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 135

with Lieutenant Bertholf of his company, made a
call at the Onderdonk mansion. They found the
family in good spirits. The new barns and out-
buildings replacing those burned by the cowboys
were about completed, and to cap the climax of
their joys, their only daughter was in their midst
once more. The afternoon was one of the love-
liest of the season, and the clear bracing Septem-
ber air was most invigorating.

The young Lieutenant with Katharine on his
arm, and Barent and his betrothed following,
spent the afternoon in rambling through the
orchards and about the farm, and enjoyed the
balmy weather and the society of one another to
the fullest extent. The early frost had painted
the mountains with all the colors of the rainbow.
The crimson of the maple, the russet brown of the
oak, the scarlet and purple of the sumac,
together with the dark green of the laurel and
hemlock, made it a fairy scene far beyond descrip-
tion or the power of the most cunning artist's
pencil.

By the time they arrived from their ramble in
the fields, Barent and Mary noticed that Lieuten-

136 CLAUDIUS,

ant Bertholf was in great danger of being captured
and made a prisoner by the intelligent conversa-
tion and captivating manners of the lovely sister of
Captain Rein. It was also apparent that Kath-
arine seemed to enjoy the society of the young
lieutenant immensely.

Lieutenant Henry Bertholf came of a solid old
Dutch family from beyond the mountains in this
same county of Orange, a family whose name had
been associated with and was prominent among
the early settlers of that part of the Province of
New York. In the early part of the war he, as
well as all the other members of the family, had
espoused the cause of the Colonies and had, since
then, taken an active part in the struggle. Henry
had walked down to Fort Sidman and enlisted as
a private, but by good conduct and especially by
great bravery shown in the desperate attack on,
and capture of the fort at Stony Point, he had
been promoted to a lieutenancy. He was about
the medium height, straight as an arrow, with
deep-set flashing gray eyes overhung by a broad
and intellectual brow. He certainly had no reason

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 137

to quarrel with dame nature in regard to his per-
sonal appearance.

But this dalliance with love and beauty could
not continue, so after taking leave of the old folks
and bidding a sweet good bye to the young ladies,
Barent and the young lieutenant took their de-
parture and at the head of their company con-
tinued the march to Tappan.

They arrived there near noon of the next day,
went into camp and part of their men were imme-
diately detailed to guard the unfortunate young
officer confined in the old stone tavern. The cap-
ture of Major Andre and the opportune arrival of
Washington at West Point saved the post from fall-
ing into the hands of the British; but Arnold being
apprised through the stupidity of Colonel Jamison,
escaped, eventually got on board of the Vulture
and lived to reap the base reward of his treachery
— a commission as Colonel in the British army
and the sum of six thousand three hundred and
fifteen pounds sterling.

Washington appointed a board of fourteen mili-
tary officers to try Andre, who, after hearing his
confession, (for he was too conscientious to deny

138 CLAUDIUS,

the part he had taken in the matter), unani-
mously convicted him of being a spy, and, accord-
ing to the law of nations, condemned him to
death upon the scaffold. During his confinement
he won the love and respect of all whose duties
brought them near his person and especially of
Captain Barent Van Houten and the officers and
men of his company who had been detailed to
guard his prison.

It was on the morning of the 2d of October,
1780, when the beating of the reveille awoke the
soldiers of the guard at Tappan and ushered in the
day of doom for Major John Andre, the British
spy. The sun rose in all the glory of an October
morning, and its first rays, as they glinted over the
rocky barrier of the Palisades, penetrated through
the iron bars and lighted up the cell of the doomed
man. There was scarcely one who knew him
who did not deprecate the stern necessity of war
and wish it could be otherwise in his case. The
doom of a spy is death, and every soldier knows
it ; and when he ventures within the enemy's
lines he is certain of the penalty if taken. But if
some mercy had been shown to Captain Nathan

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 139

Hale, who knows whether Major John Andre
might not have been spared ?

Washington offered to exchange Andre for
Arnold but Sir Henry Clinton refused. He even
set a plan on foot to capture the arch traitor that
he might have an excuse to pardon Andre, but
this plan miscarried, and Sergeant John Champe,
in consequence, served a hard apprenticeship in
the British army for his daring attempt to capture
the traitor.

Andre had petitioned Washington to be shot as
a soldier instead of being hung like a common
criminal. The Commander-in-Chief, moved by
his appeal, presented the request to his officers,
but it was refused. Finding that there was no
alternative, he became submissive to his fate and
calmly prepared for death.

Captain Van Houten's company was ordered
under arms and formed in front of the prison.
Lieutenant Bertholf entered the old tavern, and
proceeding to the room in which he was confined,
informed Andre that the hour for his execution
had arrived. He had already prepared himself
for the summons and said he was ready for the

140 CLAUDIUS,

ordeal. The lieutenant escorted him to the front
of the building where the soldiers were in line,
ready for the march to the gallows. This had
been erected on the hill west of the little village,
probably a quarter of a mile distant. Placing him
between two ranks of soldiers the order was given
to advance ; and he began his last journey on
earth, which was to end at the scaffold.

Solemnly, and with muffled drums beating, the
detachment wended its way up the hill. Lieu-
tenant Bertholf walked by his side the whole dis-
tance and the only complaint he made was as to
the manner of his death. " I had hoped to die the
death of a soldier," said he, "but the fortunes of
war have denied me that boon, and I must be con-
tent ! "

Arriving at the gallows the company formed a
hollow square about it. The condemned man
was placed in a wagon and when the word was
given, it was drawn from beneath him and the
victim was left dangling in the air.

Thus perished as a spy Major John Andre, Adju-
tant-General of the British army, who under other,
and more favorable circumstances, might have

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 141

lived to be an ornament to his country. Through
the infamy and base treachery of one who had
been honored and confided in by the nation this
noble young man died a shameful death on the
gallows.

He was buried near the spot where he was exe-
cuted and his remains rested there until 1821,
when, by the orders of the Duke of York, his
body was disinterred and carried to England, and
his remains now repose in Westminster Abbey,
that Pantheon of England's honored dead. After
the execution, the company returned to camp at
Tappan, where Washington then had his head-
quarters.

CHAPTER XVII.

Upon the highest point of Tome mountain, the
loftiest peak of the Ramapo range, and which
overlooks the valley of the Ramapo for many
miles, might have been seen on a pleasant morning
in October, 1780, a man with a small field glass
closely scanning the valley around Fort Sidman.
He seemed to be intently watching something that
was taking place in the immediate vicinity of the
fort. After looking through the glass for some
minutes, he turned and said to a companion who
was sitting on the branching roots of a huge elm
a short distance behind him : " Cobus, there is
a great commotion at the fort, and from what I can
observe, it looks as though an expedition is being
fitted out for some purpose. Take a look through
the glass, and see what you can make of it ! "

After looking through the glass Cobus replied :
"Yes, there appears to be something more than
common going on, and I think, with you, that a
142

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 143

body of soldiers is about to move from the fort.
Yes, now I see them moving and I believe they
mean to march south. Look for yourself, Claudius,
and see if it is not so?"

Claudius, for it was none other, took the glass
from his brother's hand, and looked steadily
through it for some time. As he lowered it he
replied: "Yes, they are moving south, and I
have no doubt are bound for the Jersies. Well,
let them go and it may be that some of them will
never get back, for I think there will be some
warm work in that direction before long." "At
any rate," said Cobus, "they are not moving in the
direction to give us any trouble, and that is some
satisfaction."

"That is true," remarked Claudius, "and
while the garrison here is only strong enough to
man the works and protect the Pass> we can do
some profitable business for ourselves." "There
is only one party we have to fear and that is the
company of scouts under that infernal Rem.
Onderdonk," said Cobus. "You are right there,"
said his brother, " they are more troublesome to
us than the whole rebel army combined."

144 CLAUDIUS,

From the summit of Tome mountain, where
these two worthies stood, could be had one of the
finest views of mountain, valley and woodland to
be found in the country. To the north could be
seen the two mountain ranges that bound the valley
on either side, until they slope down to the fertile
fields in the far distance. To the south the eye
took in the level lowlands and gently rolling hills
of the whole stretch of country almost to the city
of New York. To the east might be seen the
rugged peaks of Verdrietige Hook and the entire
County of Orange south of the mountains, bounded
only by the Highlands of the Hudson and the hills
of Westchester ; while beneath through the whole
length of the valley glided the silver waters of the
Ramapo.

To the lover of nature in her different moods,
here was a study of wondrous diversity and
beauty ; but whether these two brothers either
realized or enjoyed this grand scenery is beyond
our ken.

" Come Cobus, let us find the boys and see what
arrangement can be made," said Claudius, as he
turned and took the path down the mountain to
the north, followed by Cobus.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 145

In a small and secluded valley, about a mile
north of Torne mountain, were gathered a band
of about twenty men. They were dressed in a
diversity of costumes and all were armed with
rifles which were stacked conveniently around the
camp. They seemed to have nothing particular
to do, but were lounging about in all sorts of
positions. Some were enjoying their pipes, some
roasting meat over a fire, and others were lying
down and seemed to be sleeping. But at the same
time an observer would have noticed that several
sentinels were stationed at proper distances about
the camp to guard against any attempt at surpris-
ing it.

As the reader has no doubt surmised, this was
the camp of the cowboys and tories under the
command of Claudius Smith.

A log hou'se of pretty fair size stood in a clump
of evergreen trees and formed the neucleus about
which several shanties of smaller size were built.
It was about the hour of noon when Claudius and
his brother arrived in the camp, and, calling his

146 CLAUDIUS,

men around him, laid before them a scheme to rob
some farms north of the mountains.

"To-night," said he, "we will make our way
through the mountains to the north end of the
valley and lie quiet there until darkness again
makes it safe to get out into the open country,
when, if our plans do not miscarry, we can, with
ease and safety, run off the large herd belonging to
old Gerardus Bertholf, who lives about an hour's
march from the north outlet of the Pass. If noth-
ing intervenes to prevent we can drive them down
the north side of the mountain as far as Wanaque
Valley, and through that to New York. It is im-
possible to take the shorter way by the Pass on ac-
count of the fortifications and the constant patrol
of scouting parties through it."

" Prepare yourselves for business men and be
ready to move at sun set," said Claudius, and
turning to Cobus, he continued, "leave two good
men to guard the camp until we return."

There was hurry and bustle in the camp of the
cowboys. Knapsacks were packed, arms were
cleaned and ammunition prepared, and when the
sun disappeared behind the western hills they

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 147

were ready for the march. At the word from
Claudius the cowboys started, with Cobus in the
lead. He was acquainted with every mountain
path and with almost every rock and tree in the
range.

They got to their destination about daybreak,
and selecting a spot where the foliage and under-
growth were very thick, they awaited again the
darkness of night.

Claudius sent one of his men out to reconnoitre
and report. He returned about noon and reported
that the coast was clear and that they would have
no difficulty in capturing the whole herd, as they
were pasturing in the meadow some distance from
the house and with no one to guard them but two
men and a boy. As night set in they started for
the farm and in about an hour arrived there.

Quietly they gathered around the doomed herd,
collecting them together with as little noise as
possible. Just as they thought they had succeeded
without alarming any of the household, a dog
came out barking furiously, and making towards
them seemed determined to lay hold of the first
one he came to. This frightened one of the latest

148 CLAUDIUS,

recruits of the band and he fired a pistol at the
dog. Just as he fired, Claudius seized him by
the throat and dashed him to the ground.

"What do you mean?" said the chief. " But
for your ignorance, I would crush out your mis-
erable life ! You have brought the whole family
and neighborhood upon us ! Get up now and
fight for your life !" said he, as he lifted the man
to his feet as though he had been an infant.

Sure enough out came the old man, rifle in
hand, and his two workmen, armed with hay
forks. They dashed at the first one they saw,
supposing the hen house was being robbed.

Claudius did not wish to shed blood if it could
be avoided, but the old farmer was so impetuous
that, in self defense, one of the cowboys was
compelled to fire, and down went the man badly,
though not mortally wounded. Seeing him fall,
his two workmen took to their heels and escaped
in the darkness.

Detailing about half the band to drive the cat-
tle ahead, Claudius, with the other half covered
the rear, to prevent any attack from that direction.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 149

Leaving the farmer where he fell, they hurried
away with their booty.

Before morning dawned the cowboys with the
cattle were in Wauaque Valley, where they deemed
themselves comparatively secure, as many of the
inhabitants were sympathizers with the mother
country. But beyond the valley and on the south
side of the mountains, the people were in the main
patriotic and many of the male population were in
the American army. It was therefore necessary to
use a great deal of caution after arriving at that
part of the journey, and for that reason, when the
mouth of the valley was reached, Claudius gave
orders to halt and wait for daylight. ^0,1--?^

The old farmer, Gerardus Bertholf, though badly
wounded, still thought of recovering his property,
and when he' found that the cowboys had taken
his whole herd he determined to circumvent them,
if possible.

He therefore dispatched one of his men down
Ramapo Valley for the purpose of notifying
Colonel Malcolm, the commander at Fort Sidman.
When the man arrived at the fort he was taken
immediately to the commander. He told him

150 CLAUDIUS,

that no doubt the marauders had taken the road
through Wanaque Valley for the purpose of driv-
ing the cattle to New York.

Colonel Malcolm saw that by sending a com-
pany of soldiers immediately to the -southern
mouth of the valley, they might intercept the
cowboys before they passed that spot. He there-
fore dispatched a company of twenty men under a
trusty officer for the purpose.

They took the road along the base of the eastern
range and arrived at the southern outlet before the
gang had passed. Concealing themselves in the
bushes each side of the road they awaited their
approach.

The shadows of night had scarcely fallen over
hill and valley when the cowboys were heard com-
ing down the road. About half of their men
acted as an advance guard and preceded the herd
which were being driven by the remainder.

On they came, thinking themselves secure from
attack, until those in front had just passed the
place where the soldiers were concealed. Then
the order to fire rang out upon the still night air,
and caused them to turn and look back. As they

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 151

did so the report of twenty rifles startled the
echoes and the bullets crashed into their ranks !
Those in the rear closed up and awaited the onset
of the soldiers. As they rushed from the bushes
into the road the remaining cowboys returned the
fire so effectively that the scouts were for a moment
staggered. Rallying immediately, however, they
charged with the bayonet directly among the
enemy !

The noise and clatter of the affray frightened
the cattle and caused a stampede. Helter skelter,
away they went into the bushes, up the mountain
side, and out into the open country, so that in a
few minutes not an animal was left in the road.

The cowboys retreated very slowly up the valley
and those who were not killed or wounded in
front, now came back to aid their comrades.

As the soldiers were pursuing the rear guard,
the others coming up now, fired a volley into their
ranks which almost threw them into confusion
again. But the officer in command divided his
force, and, at the head of one part charged back
among them ! This soon ended the fight, as the Cow-

152 CLAUDIUS,

boys fled into the mountains and left the soldiers
masters of the field.

The extreme darkness of the night made the
aim of the combatants uncertain and prevented a
heavy loss of life ; but as it was, four of the
marauders were killed, and quite a large number
wounded — how many could not be found out, as
they carried them away in their retreat. The
soldiers had three men killed and five wounded.

In the morning some of the cattle .were col-
lected, and on their return to Fort Sidman the
soldiers drove them back to the Pass, where the
old farmer finally recovered them. It was after-
ward learned that the cowboys gathered the rem-
nant of the herd as best they could and finally got
them into New York. But it was a costly job for
the tory gang, and the few they eventually sold
scarcely paid the expenses of the journey.

As we have noticed before, the business of these
predatory bands was becoming unprofitable and
very dangerous as the people were on the watch
for them, aud when they could be located they
were pounced upon either by the scouting parties
led by such men as Captain Rem. and his brother

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 153

Dirck, or by detachments from Fort -Sid man and
Tappan.

Still, when they reached the rocky fastnesses of
the Rainapo range, they were comparatively
secure. They knew every inch of the ground and
it was nearly an impossibility to take them by
surprise, when they had once reached these natural
strongholds.

Claudius had experienced a sad disappointment
when he visited the little cavern near the old
hemlock again to find that the bird had flown and
left the cage empty. The sentinel had been taken
prisoner and turned over by Rem.to the regulars at
Tappan, so there was no one to tell the tale of
Katharine's rescue but the old negress and the
little colored girl who occupied the log hut near
the cave.

By questioning them, Claudius found out that a
party of armed men had surprised the sentinel
and taken Katharine away with them. Of course,
Claudius was fully satisfied who had been instru-
mental in her rescue, and this knowledge added
another grain to the weight of vengeance he was
accumulating and laying up against Rem. This

I54 CLAUDIUS,

king of the scouts had so often stepped between
him and his most cherished plans, that he now
hated him with a perfect hatred and impatiently
awaited the time when he could wreak his ven-
geance upon him to its full satisfaction.

The ton- chief had met with great success at the
beginning of his career and for a time he had sup-
posed himself to be one of fortune's favored ones.
Now, however, the times were greatly changed.
The patriot cause was looking brighter, and on
several occasions his band had been defeated when
from appearances everything seemed favorable to
success.

Oftentimes when alone in one of his strong-
holds in the mountains his thoughts would revert
to that dark and stormy night when he visited the
fortune teller of Call Hollow and heard from her
lips that dire prophecy of what his end would be.
In his own mind he would then think over recent
events, and compare them with the words of
the old woman ; and, imagining that some por-
tion of the prophecy had proved true, would ask
himself whether the end might not be the same ?

Then again, he would, by an effort of his

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 155

strong will, throw all these gloomy forebodings to
the winds, and appear before his companions as
one of the most light hearted and careless of the
band. But do what he would, ever and anon, the old
hag's words would come back to him with increased
force and as time went by the effect of these un-
happy thoughts was plainly discernible. His band
of reckless outlaws had been diminishing for some
time and recruits were few and far between,'
plainly showing to others, as well as to himself,
that the business was becoming unpopular.

Claudius had appeared as one of the most hard-
ened, and one not likely to give a thought to past

sins, vet now the blood of his victims seemed a

•

heavy weight on his soul and caused him many a
sleepless night.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The year 1780, had been one of many tips
and downs in the cause of freedom. In the
South, the city of Charleston had surrendered to
the British ; the battle of Hanging Rock had
been won by General Sumter, and though starting
into the fight with only two rounds of ammunition
for each of his men, they soon filled their cart-
ridge boxes from those of the fleeing tories.

Many times Marion and Sumter went into battle
with only enough muskets for a portion of their
men, but as some of them fell either killed or
wounded, the remainder armed themselves with
the guns of their disabled comrades and continued
the fight.

At King's mountain, the independent riflemen,

each company under its own leader, attacked

Ferguson, who had been sent to gather and rally

the tories of the neighborhood, and killed one

156

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 157

hundred and fifty of his men, together with their
leader, and took the rest prisoners.

At the battle of Cainden the patriot army
suffered a defeat. It was there that the chivalric
Baron De Kalb, who commanded the Continental
regulars, fell covered with wounds and glory, a
costly sacrifice in the cause of liberty.

Before the battle began, he told his brother
officers that he could not depend upon the militia;
but that he was too old to run, and that his Conti-
nentals would stand by him. And so it proved ;
the militia fled at the first fire, and the brunt of
the battle fell upon the regulars, who fought until
they saw their beloved commander fall, pierced
with eleven wounds, when they, too, retired,
though in good order.

But the British loss in this battle was heavier
than the American, and though the patriots retired
aud left the British masters of the field, the effect
was little less injurious to them than a defeat.

About this time there was quite a large detach-
ment of our French allies stationed just south of
Rarnapo Pass, under the command of Count
Rochambeau. The French and American officers

158 CLAUDIUS,

often met at the SuflTern tavern, owned by a staunch
old patriot named John Suffern, and used as a
headquarters by Washington when in that neigh-
borhood.

At one of these convivial meetings, a contro-
versy arose between a young French and American
officer which ended in a challenge being given
by the Frenchman and accepted by the American.
They met at a place near the base of Noorde Kup
peak, just north of what is called the Point of the
Mountain. At the first fire the young Frenchman
fell, mortally wounded. He was buried on the
banks of the Mahwah. where his remains still lie,
far from his native land and the loved ones at
home.

Fortunate it is that, since that day su.ch dis-
tressing incidents have become less frequent and
such false ideas of honor more unpopular in
our glorious land.

Here too, in the Sufiern home, was often seen
Colonel Aaron Burr, then a dashing young officer
in the Continental army. It was from this place
that he rode many times over to Paramus to visit
the beautiful Theodosia Prevost, who afterwards

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 159

became his wife. Even when stationed across
the river in Westchester, he was attracted by her
magnetic influence, and, calling a boat's crew and
with his horse tied in the boat, he would cross to
Sneden's landing and ride from there flfteen miles
to Paramus and back again before the first ray of
sunlight lit up the eastern horizon.

All through the war Burr served his country
faithfully : but in after years, though elevated to
the second place of honor in the gift of his fellow
citizens, he let his ambitious designs and desire
for self aggrandizement lead him into a conspiracy
to establish an empire west of the Alleghanies, of
which he should be the emperor, or chief. For
this he was arrested and tried at the city of Rich-
mond, but for want of proof was finally released.
His after life, however, seemed embittered by this
failure, and when his beloved and beautiful
daughter, Theodosia, was lost at sea, he became
gloomy and despondent and in his retirement was
almost forgotten by his countrymen.

It was also near this place, in the valley of the
Ramapo, where the great chain was made which
was stretched across the Hudson at West Point to

l6o CLAUDIUS,

prevent British war vessels from ascending the
river. The remains of many of those old furnaces
and forges where it was made can yet be seen dot-
ting this historic valley throughout its whole
length. They are the fit reminders of the indus-
try and perseverance of our forefathers, who delved
from the surrounding hills their mineral treasures.

It was at the base of old Hooghe Kup, that
grand sentinel which guards the southern outlet of
the valley, that in 1715 the Tuscarora tribe of
Indians rested for some lime, on their journey from
their seat in North Carolina, to join their relatives
the Iroquois. or Five Nations, in Central New
York.

Here in the mountains which bound the western
side of the Pass, may yet be found a mixture of
that race. Of course they have been mixed with
white and negro blood, but some specimens may
still be found of that race, which, before the white
men came, were the conquerors of almost half
the continent.

After remaining here for a while, they took up
their march and became one of the Six Nations
which afterwards became the deadly enemies of

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. l6l

the Colonies in their struggle for independence.
For several years they harassed our frontier, and
almost drove the white settlers from that part of
the State. At last, General Sullivan was dis-
patched with an army to punish them. Near
where the city of Elmira now stands, he met and
vanquished them and taught them a lesson they
did not forget for a generation.

It was this tradition among what is left of the
tribe that caused Silas Mountpleasant, a nephew of
the head chief, to wander back from Lake Erie
and pass the rest of his life in the shadows of the
Ramapo range. For long years he was a well
known member of the community residing in, or
near the valley, remaining until consumption,
that scourge of the red man, ended his life in the
house of a great hearted neighbor, who, for sev-
eral years before his death had cared for him as if
one of his family.

But the red man's career is almost ended, not
only in this valley, but throughout our whole
broad land ; and it will not be many years before
they, like the bison of their plains, will be among
the things which are not. u

CHAPTER XIX.

The great struggle for Independence was slowly
drawing to a close and the battles between the op-
posing forces, this year, (1781) were in almost
every instance favorable to the American arms.
Though the traitor Arnold had done some mis-
chief in the burning of the city of Richmond,
and some other less important places, yet at Cow-
pe.ns, Guilford Court House, and Eutaw, the
patriots more than held their own.

Washington, with a large part of the army,
together with our French allies, making a feint as
though intending to attack New York, had
marched from Newburgh on the Hudson, and
when within a short distance of that city swerved
aside, and, by forced marches night and day, in-
vested Cornwallis at Yorktown.

Captain Barent Van Houten and his command
had been ordered to join the army on its march
162

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 163

through the valley and were now forming a part of
the besieging force.

So rapid had been the movements of the allied
army, that it was some time before Sir Henry Clin-
ton discovered their purpose and they were already
besieging Cornwallis when he found that they had
disappeared from his front.

Clinton at once embarked with an army of
seven thousand men to go to the relief of York-
town, but five days before his arrival there Corn-
wallis had surrendered his whole army of more
than seven thousand men, besides an immense
quantity of arms and military stores. Clinton
therefore returned to New York, disappointed in
his expectation of raising the siege.

The surrender of Corwallis and his well equipped
army was the cause of universal joy and rejoicing
to the people of the country and nothing but
praises of Washington and La Fayette, Rocham-
beau and De Grasse, were heard throughout the
land.

Soon after the surrender, the northern division
of the army returned to its old position on the
Hudson, which of course brought Barent and his

164 CLAUDIUS,

men back again to Fort Sidman. They were re-
ceived with acclamations of delight on their return.
Bonfires were burned and signal lights blazed
from every mountain top between the banks of the
Hudson and the Delaware.

As the war was now thought to be nearly over,
the dawn of peace gave opportunity to attend to
other things nearer home, which had been post-
poned for the more pressing needs of the country
at large. One of these, and the main one too, was
to crush out and disperse the predatory bauds of
malignant tories which infested^ the mountain
region of the southern part of New York.

To do this effectually, the company under the
command of Barent Van Houten, and the scouts
led by Captain Rembrandt Onderdonk, were detail-
ed for the purpose.

Many an effort had been made before to accom-
plish this, but they had never proved entirely
successful and the tories and cowboys still pur-
sued their dastardly vocation of robbing and mur-
dering the unarmed inhabitants of this district.
But now, a supreme effort to destroy them was to
be made, and these companies were selected on

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 165

account of their superior knowledge of the part
of the country in which they were to operate.
These two officers, too, were thoroughly ac-
quainted with the ground and for that reason were
well adapted to lead the expedition.

The urgent need of patrolling the banks of the
Hudson was now relaxed, which left Captain Rem.
and his men free to join in this long cherished,
though often deferred plan to drive these outlaws
from their haunts.

To accomplish this business properly, it was
necessary that the two officers should have a.
mutual understanding of the matter.

Having been notified of their selection, they
met and conferred in regard to the plan to be
pursued. This conference was held at the old
tavern at Coe's corner, midway between King's
Ferry and Fort Sidman.

Captain Onderdonk proposed that his company
should begin the search at the eastern end of
Verdrietige Hook mountain and scour every nook,
cave and valley in that range and then take in the
Kakiatt and Cheesecock hills toward the west,
while Captain Van Houten and his command

l66 CLAUDIUS,

should start into the mountains at Fort Sidinan
and eventually both commands meet about
midway between the two points, thus making
a sweeping hunt and covering every inch of
the ground for the whole distance.

This plan of campaign was agreed to by Barent
and acquiesced in by their two lieutenants, Dirck,
Captain Rem's brother, and Bertholf.

After talking over the details of the expedition
more particularly, they separated, and repaired to
their respective camps. Captaim Rem. after
receiving special orders to drop everything else
and hunt the cowboys, sent to the old place
for Black George to join him at King's Ferry
and aid in the grand search for Claudius and
his men.

This, of course, just suited the faithful African,
who had been wishing for this opportunity. He
had made so many terrible threats as to what he
would do if he could only get another chance at
the tories that the opportunity now offered to be
in at the death of the gang, made this a red letter
day in his existence.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 167

And certainly George was not a mean recruit,
for he was so thoroughly acquainted with almost
every mountain path, that in this respect at least,
he was far ahead of nearly every other member of
Captain Rem's company.

UO, Mas' Rein! dis am jist what Fse been
waiten fer," said he, when he arrived at the
camp. " Dis nigger's been waiten' fer de time to
come when we mus' git eben wid dat tory gang
an' make dem fellers sorry fer all de debbilment
dey eber done ! Look out ! Mas' Claud, we is
comin' fer you sure dis time ! "

Leaving Captain Rem. almost ready to begin
the campaign against the cowboys we will take
a look at the preparations being made at Fort
Sidmau for the same purpose.

Captain Van Houten and his efficient lieutenant
began immediately on their return to get their
men ready for the expedition. Every rifle was
cleaned, every cartridge box was replenished, and
each man's knapsack was packed with provisions
for the compaign. Everything was put in order
as though entering on a regular campaign against
a powerful enemy. The same preparation had

168 CLAUDIUS,

been made by the scouts at King's Ferry, and
two days after the conference at Coe's cornerr
both detachments were ready to enter the moun-
tains.

CHAPTER XX.

As the men under Captain Rem. and his brother
struck into the Verdrietige Hook range, near the
borders of the Hudson, he said to them :

"Let the search be thorough. Cover every
inch of the ground. Beat every bush and thicket;
and to him who first discovers the whereabouts of
Claudius and his band I promise ten pounds in
sterling silver."

Captain Onderdonk had a huge account to settle
with the tory chief, a great portion of which re-
mained still uncancelled upon the debtor side of
the book. There was the burning of the barns
and outbuildings on the old place ; the running off
of the cattle and horses ; and, above all, and over-
shadowing all the rest, was the dastardly abduc-
tion of his sister Katharine. At last he hoped the
time had arrived to strike a balance and close the
transactions between them.
169

jyO CLAUDIUS,

Ever since the breaking out of hostilities Rem.
had hoped to meet Claudius face to face and settle
the score with him personally ; but thus far that
wish had been foiled, and they had never met
since the evening he saw him at his father's house.
But now he thought the opportunity would come
when that wish would be gratified, and he impa-
tiently awaited the time.

There was a large tract of country to be covered
in this search, and to do it successfully required
considerable time and a great deal of hard and
weary work. But Captain Rem's company was
used to mountain fighting, and inured to all kinds
of hardship. The men from Fort Sidman were
unused to mountain climbing, and were not so
well acquainted with the ground ; but their hearts
were in the work, which caused them to overcome
all obstacles with a determination that knew no
such word as fail.

The ton sympathizers of Claudius were now on
the alert, and the expedition had scarcely entered
the mountains before messengers had informed
him of what was in the wind. His first thought
was to disband his gang, and thus escape the

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 1 71

punishment they had so richly deserved. But
then he knew that himself, and most of his men,
were so well known among the inhabitants of the
surrounding district that eventually they would
be taken, if only one or two at a time, and when
there was no chance for resistance.

He therefore determined that in numbers there
was strength, and that at some one of the almost
impregnable locations in the mountains he would
make a stand and fight it out so long as there was
a man left to stand by him.

He, himself, and many of his men. could no
doubt escape by leaving this part of the country
altogether ; but even in the heart of an outlaw
there is love for the place of his birth and
the associations surrounding his earlier years,
which, in the most degraded and desperate, is hard
to eradicate and entirely subdue.

From King's Ferry Claudius received notice
that his old enemy, Rem. Onderdonk, was on the
war path to hunt him down. He, Claudius, was
not to be frightened, however, though the whole
world was against him ; and he certainly deserved
this credit — that as the difficulties and dangers

I72 CLAUDIUS,

increased his courage rose with the occasion and
made him more determined than ever to resist

He was born among these hills ; his old parents
were still living ; and every object that binds one
to his native place was located here. He knew
the ordeal was before him, and he braced himself
to meet it. From boyhood he had roamed over
this wild and romantic district, free as the moun-
tain eagle ; and now, to think of being driven
from all the associations of his youth and man-
hood too, made him desperate and he resolved, if
necessary, to die in the last ditch.

Claudius and his brother met at the old tavern
in the nook of the mountains and there made
arrangements to gather the band to defend what
they considered their birthright. Their men were
fighters every one, for the weak ones had long
since been weeded out to make room for more
solid material, and now the band was composed of
the hardy, reckless men of the mountains, whom
work could not weary, nor danger intimidate.

After remaining at their old home for several
hours they took leave of the family and started
for the camp of the outlaws, situated, as before

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 173

shown, about a mile north of Torne mountain.
When they arrived there they found nearly the
whole band had got word of the expedition and
were gathered there to await the commands of
their leader. They placed implicit confidence in
Claudius and recognized his superior intelligence
and knowledge. As the two brothers entered the
camp the men gathered around them, anxious to
hear any news they might have to communicate.
There were some twenty-five of them, and every
man of the number could be depended upon in
almost any emergency.

"Well, comrades," said the chief, " I suppose
you are aware of the extraordinary efforts that are
being made, not only to drive us out of the coun-
try, but to capture any or all of us and to bring us
to trial on. charges of robbery and murder. We
have our choice of three different modes of action.
One is to separate and scatter ourselves over the
country and run the risk of being taken one or
two at a time and be dealt with as these victorious
rebels may think best. Another is, to deliver
ourselves up to the authorities and supplicate for
mercy. And then there is another and the last,

IJ4 CLAUDIUS,

which is to stand up like men and soldiers and
fight it out as long as there is a man of us left to
handle a rifle.

"I have determined to leave it to yourselves,
my men, who have stood by me all these years in
fair weather and foul, in sunshine and in storm, in
the bloody fray, and on many a weary night
march, to choose which of the three modes we had
better adopt"

" Come, what is your verdict ? " said Claudius,
as he finished speaking.

" We will fight it out and die like men rather
than run like frightened rabbits, or crawl like
whipped curs to their feet ! " said one and all, and
throwing their caps in the air they gave three
rousing cheers that made the mountain gorges
ring again, and shook the foliage on the trees
above.

"They have already begun the hunt," said
Claudius. " They are strong in numbers, and one
of the parties, at least, is incited by offers of re-
ward to the man who shall first discover us. To-
night we will break camp, and try to find a more
suitable place to make a final stand against these

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 175

invaders of our mountain home." Turning to
Cobus, he ordered him to attend to getting
everything in readiness to move at sunset.

As soon as the sun disappeared behind Torne
Mountain the cowboys left their old camping
ground, and under the lead of Cobus and the chief
proceeded through the mountains towards the east.
They traveled until near midnight when Claudius
called a halt and told them this was the place he
had selected to make a final stand against their
enemies.

The place was well adapted to stand a siege, as
nature had made it almost impregnable. A rocky
gorge of many feet in depth cut into the mountain
on the east. On the south was a huge precipice,
the walls of which rose nearly perpendicular from
the base of the hill, while on the west was
another deep valley, down which a mountain tor-
rent leaped in foamy rage. Only on the north
side was it unprotected by nature's own handi-
work ; but on that side the plateau extended back
almost as far as the eye could reach and for a
distance of more than five hundred feet there was
scarcely a tree or bush to obstruct their view.

176 CLAUDIUS,

Enemies approaching from that direction would
have to expose themselves to view for all that
distance, which would give the garrison of this
natural fortress opportunity to pour a withering
fire into their ranks from behind a breastwork built
across from gorge to chasm.

In this place the cowboys made their camp.
There was ample room for tents and all the camp
equipment and before another night's shadows had
darkened the surrounding landscape, the fortifica-
tions were completed and everything in readiness
to receive the enemy.

It was then, when all had been done that could
be done to make the stronghold of the tories safe
against almost any number that might attack it
that they had time to think and meditate on what
might happen in the near future ; and Claudius,
whose mind was ill at ease, was often in deep
thought.

One day while they were still waiting to hear of
the approach of the force they knew was being
sent against them Cobus thus addressed his
brother, who seemed to be in one of his
melancholy moods :

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 177

" What ails you, Claudius? You seem to be in
a gloomy state of mind these days, in fact so much
so that our men have noticed it and it is having a
bad effect upon them ! They say your courage
must be failing, and that you are brooding over
expected defeat!"

"Cobus," replied the tory chief, "do you be-
lieve that one human being can look farther into
the future than another?"

"Well," said Cobus, "I have heard that there
are persons who can see into the future and tell to
almost a certainty, what is to befall another ; but
I have had no experience in that line myself and
do not place much confidence in such stories. But
why do you ask me such a question, Claudius ? "

" It was about the beginning of the war," replied
his brother, " that I happened near Call Hollow
( which you know is about midway between the
Pointof the Mountain and King's Ferry) and visited
an old crone who resides there in a dilapidated old
hut and got her to tell my fortune. And to tell
you the truth, Cobus, thus far in my career, her
words have come true ! It wras a terrible horoscope

178 CLAUDIUS,

she drew for nie and if the end should prove to be
as she foretold then indeed am I doomed ! It was a
mere fit of curiosity which impelled me to call on her
and I never took her prophecy seriously ; but still,
when I recognize the fact that a part of it has
come true, I cannot help but feel a little anxious
as to whether the other part of it may not be the
same."

"Throw these gloomy forebodings from your
mind and be yourself again ! Much depends upon
you in the coming struggle !" said Cobus.

" What you say is true and I will take your
advice," replied the chief.

CHAPTER XXI.

Captain Rein, and his company of scouts were
making a thorough search for the hiding place of
the cowboys and had covered the ground from
Verdrietige Hook to the Kakiatt Hills when one of
his men came in and announced that he had
found, (as he described it), " the nest of the cow-
boy gang." He described the place as well as he
could to Rein, and said they were located on a
point of the mountains that was almost impregna-
ble by nature.

Captain Onderdonk and his brother Dirck knew
the spot well and coincided with the report he
brought as to its being one of the strongest
natural fortresses in the whole Ramapo range.
They knew that the only way to assault it success-
fully would be to attack the position with a large
force from two directions at once.

Nothing had been heard from Barent and his
179

180 CLAUDIUS,

men yet, but Rem. supposed they must be within
a very short distance of where the cowboys were
stationed. After consulting with some of his
officers, Captain Onderdonk sent a messenger to
find Barent and his men, if possible, and invite
him to a conference before the attack was made,
so that they might have an understanding as to
the manner in which it should be conducted.

The messenger returned the next day and re-
ported that he had found them about three miles
west of the tory stronghold and that Captain Van
Houten would meet him at a point about half way
between the two companies.

In accordance with this understanding the two
commanders met a short distance from the base of
the mountain and there laid out the plan of
attack. The next morning after the conference
they were to march toward one another and dis-
pose their forces so as to surround the cowboy
rendezvous as nearly as possible. Whichever
company got into position first should notify the
other by a single rifle shot.

It was toward evening the next day and
Rem. and his men were making their way

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 1 8 1.

as well as they could over the rocks and through
bushes along the Summit of the range, when, from
toward the west, came the report of a single rifle
ringing through the forest, notifying him that
Barent and his men were in position. In a
short time an answering report told Captain Van
Houten that the scouts, too, were in their
place.

The besiegers saw the difficulties which faced them
and were pretty well satisfied that the only vulnera-
ble point of the tory position was on the north side,,
and that to capture the place they must make the
assault from that direction and carry it at the
point of the bayonet. But even to attempt that
would incur a heavy loss, and many of their men
who had passed through the long and weary
struggle which had about ended, safely, would
now be laid low by the bullets of this outlawed
band.

It was the intention of both commanders to cap-
ture or destroy these marauders with as little loss
of life on their part as possible. But they were in
a strong position, and to carry it, there must
necessarily be some sacrifices.

1 82 CLAUDIUS,

The fight began almost immediately after the
two companies got into position, and a continuous
discharge of musketry was kept up until night
closed in around the combatants. In the evening
Captain Barent and his men met and determined
on a plan of assault. This was that Bareut and his
company should keep up the fire from across the
valley to the west, while Rem. and his command
should clamber up the gorge on the east side, gain
the plateau and just as morning dawned, charge the
breastworks which covered the position of the cow-
boys on the north.

Toward midnight Captain Rem. led his men up
through the rocky chasm as quietly as possible.
Like beasts of prey stealing on their victims, the
scouts crept over the many obstructions in their
path, now crawling on their knees through
the dense laurel bushes which grew along the
precipitous sides of the gorge and again
clambering over the rough and scraggy rocks
that lined the bottom of the ravine. They finally
reached the summit of the plateau about an hour
before daybreak.

It was arranged that just as soon as it was light

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 183

enough to see at all, the company from Fort Sid-
man should begin firing and make as great a
demonstration as possible, to attract the attention
of the tories, while the scouts, under Captain
Rem, should then charge the breastwork from
the north. They therefore lay on their arras
waiting for daybreak. They had gained the posi-
tion without alarming the besieged, and were
ready to rush upon the cowboys at a moment's
notice.

Just as the first sign of daylight lit up the east-
ern sky a terrific discharge of fire arms greeted the
tories from across the valley to the west. It was
the signal for the scouts to charge the fortifica-
tions, and as the tories were in the act of returning
the fire a shout was heard, and as they turned to
find out from whence it came they saw the whole
company with Captain Rem. at its head in the act
of mounting the embankment.

" Come on, my men ! Use only cold steel !"
shouted their leader, as he sprang over the earth
works, followed by his men.

The cowboys were in a measure surprised by
the sudden onset, but still they were soon ready to

1 84 CLAUDIUS,

receive them. Rem. raged through the fight
like a demon and got so far in advance of his
men that, at one time, he was completely sur-
rounded by the desperate tories. But with
every swing of his good right arm a cowboy
bit the dust, and very soon he cleared a place
around him.

"At them, boys!" cried he; "down with the
abductors of women! "

"It was a bloody and terrible hand to hand
struggle which now ensued. Man to man! face to
face! they met, with all the accumulated hatred of
years nerving each arm and inspiring every heart.

Captain Rem. hunted for the tory chief and at
last saw him in the act of cutting down one of the
scouts whose valor had urged him too far from his
command. With one bound the giant scout was
upon him!

"I have found you at last!" cried Rem, as he
grasped the' tory leader by the throat and hurled
him to the ground. But Claudius, with one over
powering effort, struggled to his feet, and with
intense hate flashing from his eyes, faced the scout.
Both were armed with heavy swords, and as they

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 185

fought, and with skill parried each other's blows,
they unconsciously approached the precipice at the
south side of the plateau. Captain Rem. was
between it and the cowboy chief and just in time
saw what Claudius meant. Rushing forward he
grasped the tory's coat, and, with all the power of
his strong arm, with a backward motion threw
him over into the abyss! Not stopping to see
what became of him, Rem. joined his men just as
the last of the cowboys surrendered.

The whole band, except three, were either
killed or prisoners. These three men, being near
the breastwork, when they saw the folly of further
resistance, sprang into the forest and made good
their escape.

After the battle, Captain Rem. sent half a
dozen men to bring in the body of the tory chief.
After a long search they returned with the in-
formation that it was nowhere to be found. They
saw where he had fallen on a ledge, not more than
ten feet from the top ; and from the broken twigs
and bushes below, they were sure he had escaped,
after all, by climbing down the face of the moun-
tain.

l86 CLAUDIUS,

The destruction of the cowboy band was com-
plete, even though their leader had for the present
saved himself. This gang of marauders, who, for
more than seven years had been the terror of the
district, were dispersed and scattered so thor-
oughly that the prospect of their ever becoming
the cause of trouble again to the inhabitants of
this part of the country, was slight indeed.

After dismantling the fortifications erected by
the cowboys and collecting the booty found in
their stronghold, Captains Barent and Rem. re-
paired with their companies to Fort Sidman.

CHAPTER XXII.

From the surrender of Cornwallis to the third of
September, 1783, when the treaty of peace was
signed at Paris, the two armies lay inactive except
that each held the forts and cities they occupied at
the time. When the news came that the treaty
had been signed by the representatives of the two
nations and that Great Britain had recognized the
Independence of the United States, the country
put on its holiday garb and gave itself over to
rejoicing, at this, the closing event of the long and
sanguinary struggle for liberty.

It was not until the 25th day of November of
the same year, that the British army evacuated
the city of New York. As the last of the invaders
embarked for England, Washington, at the head of
his victorious army entered the city amid the
acclamations of the citizens, who made it a day of
rejoicing and thanks to Almighty God for the

great deliverance.

187

1 88 CLAUDIUS,

Shortly afterward Washington repaired to An-
napolis, where Congress was in session, and
formally resigned his commission, accompanying
his act with a short and affecting speech, in which
he briefly enumerated the chief events of the war,
and commended his country to the protection of
Heaven.

This was the last act in the great and bloody
drama which had ended in making a free people
and establishing an asylum for the oppressed of all
nations. Since then, from this western land has
radiated the beneficent and invigorating warmth
of this sun of liberty, whose rays still enlighten
this glorious hemisphere where freedom had its
birth place.

That Claudius had escaped safe and sound was
believed by Rem, and he felt that his mind would
never be at ease until that king of the cowboys
and tories was brought to justice. It was known
that the Smith family originally came from Long
Island and thither Rem. felt sure the tory chief
had fled. Cobus and two others of the 'band had
also escaped just as the fight ended, and the

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 189

general opinion was that they also were concealed
at the same place.

As the war was now over and peace had been
proclaimed throughout the land Rem. procured a
warrant from a civil magistrate in which Claudius
a'nd his brother were charged with the murder of
several citizens of the County of Orange. This
was placed in the hands of an officer, who, accom-
panied by Rem. and Dirck, immediately proceeded
to Long Island in search of the outlaws. They
arrived there in due time, disguised as farm laborers
who were looking for work among the farms of
the Island. For some time they could hear noth-
ing of the fugitives and began to think they had
taken refuge in some other locality.

The part of the island where they were search-
ing was mainly inhabited by royalists, whose
sympathies were with the enemies of the country,
which made it difficult to get any information that
would lead to the arrest of the cowboys.

It was probably a week after their arrival be-
fore they got any knowledge of the hiding place
of the fugitives. One day as Rem. was listlessly
wandering about he thought he caught a glimpse

190 CLAUDIUS,

of Claudius at a farm house near the little village
of Huntington. He reported what he had dis-
covered to Dirck and the officer and they
determined to set a watch that night upon the
premises.

As soon as twilight cast its uncertain shadows
over the village they repaired to the place and
secreted themselves where they could see any one
who might enter or leave the suspected house.
They had been con'cealed but a short time when
the door opened and Claudius stepped out. He
cast furtive glances to the right and left and then
cautiously walked out upon the highway and
started down the road past where Rem. and his
party were concealed. He got just opposite to
them, when all three sprung in front of him. He
attempted to draw a pistol, but he was already
covered by the weapons of his captors, and, upon
the demand of the officer, surrendered without
striking a blow.

The surprise was so complete and sudden that
he had no chance to resist. He was immediately
disarmed and shackled, and then placed in charge
of Rem. and Dirck.

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 191

It was now Rem's opportunity to gloat over his
fallen enemy, but his soul revolted at the thought.
Our hero was made of different stuff, and in his
heart he felt a certain commiseration for the con-
quered bandit.

The next object of the officer and his com-
panions was to secure the other three men. They
therefore took Claudius to the village jail where
he could be kept safely until the others were
captured. The attempt to get from the tory chief
any information as to the place they were secreted
in, of course was futile. He had too much honor
left to divulge the place of their concealment and
stubbornly refused to tell anything that might
lead to their arrest.

They finally enlisted the services of the local
officers of the law in their cause, and before a
week transpired all three were captured.

The next object of the captors was to get their
prisoners safely into Goshen jail. For that pur-
pose, and to guard against any attempt their
friends might make to rescue them, they raised a
posse to accompany them on their journey home.

It was a long and dangerous road they had t©

192 CLAUDIUS,

travel to reach their destination ; but fortune
favored them, and in five days from the time they
started with their prisoners they arrived safe and
sound at the county seat of Orange, and incarce-
rated this remnant of the cowboy band behind the
bars of Goshen jail.

Here they remained for several weeks while the
authorities were preparing for their prosecution
by collecting all the evidence possible from the
surrounding district. It was determined to give
them a fair and impartial trial; and every advan-
tage the law allowed to persons charged with
crime.

At last the day arrived and Claudius and his
men were arraigned at the bar of justice. When
the question was put to them as to whether they
were guilty or not guilty each man arose in his
place and answered in the negative.

The trial proceeded and able counsel was em-
ployed to defend the cowboys and Claudius himself
was active in their defense, often asking questions
and suggesting others to their lawyers.

The case dragged along for many days and
caused a great sensation throughout the whole

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 193

county and even far beyond its limits. The
Court House was packed with eager listeners
each day. Men from the mountains, from Long
Island, and members of the families, some one
of whom had suffered from the ruthless actions of
the band, were in attendance, anxious to see and
note each phase of the drama being enacted before
them.

Finally, the time came when the evidence both
for and against was all in, and the counsel were
ready to make their pleas to the jury who had
patiently set for many days listening to the testi-
mony.

The prosecution had succeeded in proving its
case against all the prisoners at the bar and there
was no doubt in the minds of the spectators as to
their guilt. The jury retired, and, after deliber-
ating for several hours, came into the court and
returned a verdict of "guilty" against them all.
The judge then arraigned them separately for
sentence.

When Claudius was placed at the bar and the
question was put to him whether he had anything
13

104 CLAUDIUS,

to say why sentence of death should not be
passed upon him he arose, and thus addressed the
court :

" May it please your honor ! I know that nothing
" 1 can say will avert the doom that awaits me ;
" but it may be the last opportunity I shall have to
" excuse my past life before the people ! I was
"born among these mountains and from youth
"until manhood I roamed over them, free and
" unshackled as the air I breathed ! No word of
" dishonor was ever coupled with the name I bore
" and I looked forward to a life of respectability
" and usefulness !

"I had scarcely attained manhood when this
" war began, and, as everyone knows, I espoused
"the cause of the mother country! This
"was the one great and overwhelming fault —
" the greatest sin in the estimation of my enemies,
"which I could, under any circumstances have
•' committed ! But in my heart I thought I was
" doing right, and may your honor please, I have
" never repented that choice ! I am still a tory,
" and your honor knows what that word signifies
" among the self-styled patriots of our land !

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 195

" Inasmuch as I espoused that cause I deemed
" it my duty to further the interests of my King^
"in every way I could! I gathered around
" me a loyal band of fighters for the King and
44 Parliament and did their enemies all the damage
" in my power !

"Though I never was enlisted among the
"British regulars I fought my battles with an
" honest heart and thought I was serving my
"country as well as they !

" 1 admit that I have been instrumental in
" putting men to death ; but on every occasion it
" was in open fight or in the attempt to take from
" rebels to their King provisions needed by the
41 adherents to our cause ! For our opinion's sake
" both me and mine have been persecuted, but all
" through these cruel years I have still been stead-
" fast to my first love !

" For this great crime I am about to die. But yet
** if I could live these years again, I would again be
" guilty of the same offence ! If for the cause of
" liberty these same deeds had been done you
"would have called me patriotic and praised
4 4 these l deeds of blood ' as you now term them and

196 CLAUDIUS,

*' would have said to me, 'well done, thou good
" and faithful servant ! '

" But whv should I thus stand here and speak
" in yain ? I know the fiat has gone forth and we
** must pay the penalty you have provided. But I
" have given you some wholesome truths and
*' thank you for the opportunity ! I do not whine
" and whimper at my fate nor with driveling tears
*4 supplicate for mercy. All I ask your honor for,
" is to let the day come quickly for our execution
" and that you do not keep us in suspense ! I am
*' ready for the ordeal and shall meet it like a
" soldier !

The other men made no remarks before their
sentence. They were ordered to stand up, and the
judge sentenced all to be hung at Goshen Jail on
the aoth day of December, 1783.

When the day of fate came round Claudius and
his companions were led out, and, between two
ranks of the veteran scouts of Captain Rem, were
marched to the gallows, which had been built a
short distance from the jail and on the ground
now comprising the village green of Goshen.

Around the scaffold in hollow square stood the

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 197

stern and war-worn veterans of the Revolutionary
army. The local officers of the law were in
attendance preparing the prisoners and adjusting
the machinery of death.

Claudius and his brother retained their com-
posure to the last. The towering form of the
tory chief was erect and his mien as proud as
when he stood at the head of his bandit fol-
lowers.

Just before the signal was given to cut the cord,
Claudius bade his fellow victims farewell and in a
loud, strong voice, announced himself ready. The
sheriff stepped back, and, at his signal, the execu-
tioner severed the cord that held the fatal trap
door, and all that was left of the terrible baud of
marauders was launched into eternity.

Thus was the prophecy of the old crone of Call
Hollow fulfilled, and in the death of Claudius the
country was rid of a scourge, but who, under other
circumstances, might have been one of the great
ones of the land and an honor to his birth-
place.

The bodies of the cowboys were buried in the
old jail yard and in after years, when a new

198 CLAUDIUS,

court house was being built, the laborers who
were digging for the foundation exhumed four
human skeletons which were recognized by some
of the old inhabitants of Goshen as those of
Claudius and his three men.

The bones of these skeletons were not imme-
diately reinterred, but remained above ground until
the court house walls were being built, when one of
the masons took the skull of Claudius, which was
known from its greater size, and built it into the
front wall, immediately over the front door of the
court house, where, in all probability, it remains
to this day.

CHAPTER XXIII.

After the proclamation of peace and the dis-
banding of the Revolutionary army, the fortifi-
cations at Fort Sidman and other parts of Ramapo
Pass were abandoned, and Captain Rem. and
Barent returned to their respective homes.
Throughout the long struggle they had filled their
positions with honor to themselves and benefit to
their country, and now, when they retired to rural
pursuits, and to enjoy the blessings for which they
had given the best years of their lives, they did so
among a people who loved and respected them.

As years wore away, and the people began to
realize, more and more, the great blessings to the
country which the great conflict had insured,
every actor in it was reverenced and loved as a
benefactor of his race.

The long struggle, as is always the case, left the
199

200 CLAUDIUS,

country heavily in debt and the disbanding of the
army threw a large number of men, who for years
had known no other employment than that of the
soldier, upon the communities of the different
States. By their long service, many of them had
become totally unfitted for the duties and functions
of civil life and became wanderers and vagrants
over the land.

The morality, also, of a nation suffers in conse-
quence of war, especially in those portions where
the army has been mainly located — for it is a well
known fact that men will become more or less cor-
rupt by the close and intimate association of
great numbers. These disadvantages of course
were not peculiar to the United States, neither
was she excepted from this general rule and was
bound to suffer accordingly.

We will now return to the rural scenes where
our story began, and, with the reader, find out in
what condition the war had left them.

The desolate appearance caused by the cowboy
raid on the premises of old Martinus Onderdonk
had disappeared, and in the place where the
burned buildings had stood, new and substantial

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 2OI

barns and outbuildings had been erected. The
old man and his wife, on account of the weight of
years, had in a measure retired from the manage-
ment of the farm, and Rem. and Dirck and their
only sister Katharine, had taken their places in
the active work of conducting the place. Black
George was still there, and as chief of the re-
tainers, magnified his office, and felt that the
whole management of the farm rested upon his
shoulders.

Since the war ended Rem. had bent all his
energy toward making the farm yield as much as
possible and also in beautifying its surroundings,
until now, two years after hostilities had ceased, it
not only produced abundantly but was also a thing
of beauty to the eye. The broad fields and verdant
meadows stretched away almost as far as the eye
could reach, covered with waving grain and luxu^
riant grass.

It was in this rich and fertile valley, also, that
the farms of old Rulof Van Houten and Bernard
Demaray were situated ; and the three together
formed what everyone admitted them to be, the
garden of the county. Their productiveness was

2O2 CLAUDIUS,

proverbial and the beauty of their location was the
admiration of all the country round.

Barent Van Houten, as might have been ex-
pected, was an almost daily visitor at the Demaray
homestead, and in the society of Mary, passed
much of his time. When his company was dis-
banded he was accompanied home by Lieutenant
Bertholf, his warm personal friend and companion
throughout the whole conflict

From some intimations already thrown out, the
reader will surmise what attracted him thither,
and will not be surprised at finding him spending
many pleasant hours at the side of Miss Katharine
and in the enjoyment of the hospitalities of the
Onderdonk home.

At the earnest solicitations of Barent and Rem,
he remained in the neighborhood several weeks
and when at last, he left for his home beyond the
mountains, he carried with him the self satisfying
knowledge that he was the accepted lover of Kath-
arine Onderdonk.

For Captain Rem, the world jogged along in the
old groove. From the time he reached manhood
he had been a soldier, with no time to waste on

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 203

love or women ; and now, when the tumultuous
scenes of the struggle were past the old habits still
stuck to him, and he settled .down into calm and
contented bachelorhood.

The care of the farm occupied a portion of his
time, and when not engaged in that, he gave his
attention to his books of which he had collected a
library of all the best in science and history to be
procured ; and among them he found his greatest
enjoyment.

But the time came when Captain Rem's fellow
citizens, recognizing his ability and knowledge of
the world, looked to him as the one above all in
the district most competent to represent them in
the councils of the nation, and he was almost
unanimously elected as a Member of Congress.
He performed the duties imposed upon him so
well that he was returned again and again, until»
as the years passed, it became a burden to him
and he voluntarily retired to private life. When
finally old age came, and bent him with its weight
of years, he died as he had lived, surrounded by
friends and respected by all who knew him.

204 CLAUDIUS,

Captain Barent Van Houten was instrumental
in organizing the new State and became promi-
nent in civil life as he had been in the troublous
times that were past. It was to him, also, that
the power was given to organize the militia of the
county, and he was appointed the first commander
and received his commission as Brigadier General
from General George Clinton, the first Governor
of the State.

When peace was fairly established and the
machinery of civil government began to. run
smoothly, and such men as Captain Barent Van
Houten and Rembrandt Onderdonk were elevated
to places of power and honor, then the people
settled down with the assurance that every man
would receive the protection he was entitled to by
law and for the first time came over them that
feeling of security which had been interrupted for
eight long years of turmoil and uncertainty.

It was a lovely summer morning in the month of
June, 1785, that the wedding bells rang out from
the old Dutch Church at Tappan, and from the
surrounding country the people were congregating

THE COWBOY OF RAMAPO VALLEY. 205

to witness a double wedding. The two couples
who were about to enter the domain of Hymen,
were representatives of the leading families of
the County of Orange and loved and respected
by all.

Captain Barent Van Houten, and the lovely
Mary Demaray ; and Lieutenant Henry Bertholf,
and . the beautiful and accomplished Katharine
Onderdonk were to be married that morning and
the whole congregation of the church was coming
out to witness the ceremony.

When the hour arrived the good old Dominie
Demaray — a near relative of Mary — came down
the aisle, the bridal party arranged themselves
facing the preacher's desk, and when, after an
hour's service — for it took a good while to get
married in those days — the white-haired minister
pronounced them wedded the vast assemblage
congratulated them and wished them joy and all
the blessings of a long and prosperous life.

Thus were they wedded in the midst of friends
and neighbors and through their long and useful
lives they never regretted the day that made them
one; and in after years when sons and daughters

206

CLAUDIUS,

were born and grew up around them they blessed
that day again and never forgot to make it a day
of rejoicing while they lived.

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